5,799 people were detained for corruption from 2003 to 2013 - MACC

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had detained 5,799 individuals involved in corruption nationwide from 2003 to 2013, said MACC Education and Community division director, Datuk Shamsun Bahrin Mohd Jamil.

He said of the total, 54 per cent detained were youths below 35 years who were from the public and private sectors and among the general public.

"Youth are involved with corruption because they are caught up with the current lifestyle and they don't want to miss out on all the latest gadgets available with the changing times," he told reporters at the closing of the Sabah 2015 Integrity and Anti-Corruption carnival programme, here Saturday.

"The worldly desire of youths to possess something without thinking whether they can afford it or not is a factor that leads to corruption," he added.

Shamsun Bahrin said the MACC would continue its efforts to fight corruption by organising anti-corruption programmes in schools and universities to ensure students are aware of the dangers before they start working.