Introduce whipping to strengthen anti-corruption deterrence - lawyer
Chin Tek Ming
KOTA KINABALU (June 14): The legal advisor of Parti Warisan, Chin Tek Ming, calls upon the government of Malaysia to urgently amend the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) to include whipping as an additional form of punishment, alongside the existing provisions of imprisonment and fine.
At the moment, under section 16 to 24 of the MACC Act, the offenders face only a jail term of maximum 20 years and fine.
Chin made the call as there are numerous exposed videos that involved at least eight state assemblymen (where some are state ministers) and one speaker of the state assembly allegedly connected to the mining scandals in the state.
'At present, several serious criminal offences under Malaysian law — including those under the Penal Code and the Dangerous Drugs Act— already carry whipping as part of the sentencing regime. This is a reflection of the severity with which these offences are viewed by our society and legal system,' he pointed out in a statement on Saturday.
According to the lawyer, corruption is no less destructive. It erodes public trust, undermines governance, and causes irreparable harm to our nation's economy, institutions and future.
Despite the existing punishments under the MACC Act, corruption remains pervasive and persistent.
Clearly, the current punitive framework is insufficient to deter would-be offenders.
To eradicate or at least significantly reduce corruption, he said it is time for Malaysia to send a stronger message. The inclusion of whipping — a form of corporal punishment known for its deterrent effect — would serve as a powerful signal that corruption is a heinous crime and will be dealt with firmly and decisively.
'This proposal is not about cruelty but about proportional justice and the need for real consequences that match the gravity of the offence. 'Malaysians deserve a clean and accountable government. To achieve that, our laws must evolve in tandem with the challenges we face.
'Don't forget, in China, the punishment for corruption is 'shoot' to death depending on the degree and amount of corrupted money received,' said Chin.
Therefore, he urged the government, relevant ministers, and members of parliament to consider this amendment seriously in the next parliamentary sitting.
'This is in line with the intended reform by our present federal government,' he said.
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