APU Students Take a Stand Against Corruption at 2024 AMAR Anti-Corruption Talk

A total of 15 APU students attended the 2024 AMAR Anti-Corruption Talk to learn about tackling corruption in Malaysia from industry leaders who emphasised the prevalence of corruption and the value of whistleblowing.

Last month, 15 passionate students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of General Studies (SoGS) joined forces with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), Newton International College (NIC), and Saito University College (SUC) to attend the 2024 AMAR Anti-Corruption Talk.

The group, led by the inspiring Saktiswary Vasudevan, Chairman of the APU Chapter of Angkatan Mahasiswa Anti Rasuah (AMAR) Club, and joined by committed SoGS lecturers Ms Nurul Farhanah Mohd. Nasir and Ms Munirah Salamat were anxious to learn more about combatting corruption in Malaysia.

The 250 participants, including 15 APU students, gathered in Dewan Perdana, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, UKM Bangi, Selangor.

The talk was organised by the UKM AMAR chapter in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Community Education Division (PenMas).

The talk sought to provide these future leaders with the information and skills they need to fight for a corruption-free Malaysia.

Sharing stories, sparking change

The event kicked off with a sharing session by Mr Amar Faiz Mohamed, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Executive Officer of al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn. Bhd.

Mr. Amar’s presentation, titled ‘Zero to Hero’, was not just about personal development but it was a wake-up call to all based on his experiences, revealing the harsh reality that corruption can be lurking everywhere, even in the business world.

Following Mr. Amar’s talk, the programme delved deeper into the fight against corruption with a session titled ‘MACC: Betul ke Telus?’.

KPKPj Mohd. Nur Lokman Samingan, Head of the Anti-Corruption Initiative Sector at MACC’s National Governance Planning Division, shed light on the crucial role MACC plays in safeguarding Malaysia’s integrity.

His session highlighted the significance of the KIAR (Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course) module, which is mandatory for all Malaysian/International students as one of the ‘Mata Pelajaran Pengajian Umum’ (MPU) or General Studies Subjects under the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

He also emphasised that corruption does not only affect large organisations; it may start small, and students are not exempt.

The final session featured PSK Che Azmin Che Soh from MACC’s Education Branch of the Community Education Division.

Che Azmin provided a unique perspective, explaining the meticulous planning and evidence-gathering that goes into a corruption raid.

Unlike crimes with clear evidence, corruption thrives in secrecy, making information from the public crucial.

From left Ts. Dr. Ahmad Firdaus Arham, Deputy Director (Leadership) of the Student Affairs Centre at UKM, and Ms Nurul Farhanah Mohd. Nasir receive mementos from KPKPj Samsul Salip, MACC’s Deputy Director of Community Education.

PSK Che Azmin’s talk underscored the importance of collective action ― everyone has a role to play in exposing and preventing corruption.

The majority of APU students who attended the talk left feeling motivated and encouraged.

“The symposium opened our eyes to how widespread corruption is,” said Saktiswary Vasudevan.

“It is not only about politicians; it is also about average people. We all need to work together to make Malaysia more transparent,” stated Anusha Albert Aedise Nelson.

Another student said, “MACC’s job is challenging, but it is necessary. I’m glad we learned more about how they combat corruption,” stated Madhesh Santhanapillai.

During the discussion, UKM Ts. Dr. Ahmad Firdaus Arham, Deputy Director (Leadership) of the Student Affairs Centre, was also present.

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