MACC to have 'Livechat' on ACE to enhance public awareness on corruption

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) plans to have 'livechat' on its Anti-Corruption and Ethics (ACE) Centre's 'microsite' to enhance public knowledge on corruption.

Its deputy chief commissioner (prevention), Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the microsite, which is linked to the commission's official website, is expected to be activated end of the year.

"We have been giving talks, which is also live, but now we are interacting through space, where people are able to get information on the spot even if they are thousands of miles away," he said in a special interview on ACE with Bernama.

ACE, an advice and referral centre for good practices to address corruption, was launched on Oct 6 this year as an initiative under the MACC's transformation programme.

Mustafar said MACC was currently working with the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to share information on good practices, guidelines and case studies to address corruption in the building industry.

"What ACE will provide, among others, are basic information on what is corruption, cost of corruption, and how corruption happens.

"We will also display the best practices by local and international industry players," he added.

On public awareness on corruption, Mustafar said based on studies conducted, there was better awareness among the public on the matter.

For example, in 2005, 30.5 per cent of students at institutions of higher learning said they would accept bribe, and last year, the percentage dropped to between 10 and 15 per cent, he added.

He said various incentives would be carried out by MACC to enhance public awareness on corruption and the impact of the crime on the society and country's development.