MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said he saw nothing wrong with rewarding those who reject corruption while simultaneously showing them appreciation for staying clean.
“Don’t comment on this initiative as if it is our only effort to prevent corruption. We have many other anti-graft activities and campaigns. Look at the big picture.
“When we pay a reward, we are also showing our appreciation to someone who is clean. We hold such a person in high regard,” he told a news conference after launching the anti-graft revolution movement and 3J campaign with Mara at the Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS) Terminal transport hub today.
The ”ringgit for ringgit” incentive for informants and witnesses among public employees in corruption cases was introduced in 2011 but only attracted 214 people and involved a total value of RM384,000.
The minimum amount to be paid as reward is RM500.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the number of informants and witnesses constituted only 0.00001% of the 1.6 million government employees.
He said the low figures did not mean there was poor response in reporting cases of corruption.
“We received many reports from government employees but many of the informants did not want the reward,” he said.