KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called for severe punishments in corruption cases and suggested creating a special court to expedite trials.
According to a report by The Star, Sultan Sharafuddin stressed that corruption has become deeply entrenched, and subordinates were emulating the dishonest practices of their superiors.
"It's like a small monkey following the big monkey," he said.
He pointed out that most individuals involved in corruption, particularly those higher up, were not financially desperate.
Instead, they followed the example set by politicians and senior officials.
"Government servants see politicians and bosses engaging in corruption and think they can do it as well," Sultan Sharafuddin remarked.
The Sultan also expressed frustration over the slow pace of legal proceedings, which has allowed corruption to spread within the government.
He suggested establishing a special corruption court and enacting stronger laws to deter wrongdoers.
"People involved in corruption must face severe punishment. If the punishment is not severe, it will not be effective.
"You can see that in Vietnam and China if there is corruption, they tembak (shoot)."
He also noted that corruption among government servants and politicians has grown more alarming, comparing it to gang-like activity.
On corruption in the police force, Sultan Sharafuddin criticised the loss of its integrity due to corruption, recalling a time when the force's symbol represented its commitment to public service.
He described the current state as being influenced by invisible "ghost hands" and stressed that the police should serve the public impartially.
The Sultan also urged the police to address cases more efficiently, noting that delays have caused people to lose trust in them.
He also believes the police can improve, citing his own experience in the force, when he had served as a civil servant and worked in both the Kuala Lumpur police and Selangor state offices after returning from the UK in 1968.