By Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah / The Edge Malaysia
10 Nov 2025, 11:45 am
The word integrity comes from the Latin integer, which means complete, whole and steadfast — a state of being supported by honesty, sincerity, transparency and moral strength.
Integrity also signifies the quality of being whole and undivided, where actions remain consistent with one’s principles and ethical values, practised continuously in all aspects of personal and professional life.
Integrity calls upon us to do the right thing in a reliable way.
Ibn Taymiyyah, in his work Al-Siyasah al-Shar‘iyyah fi Islah al-Ra‘iwa al-Ra‘iyyah wrote: “Justice and trustworthiness are the pillars that uphold governance and life; when these two are lost, all human affairs will collapse.”
Similarly, American philanthropist and renowned investor Warren Buffett once said when selecting candidates for employment: “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities — integrity, intelligence and energy. But if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”
This principle echoes the divine command in the Quran, Surah Al-Qasas, verse 26: “Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong (capable) and the trustworthy (honest).”
Such is the centrality of integrity — the moral strength that shapes character, the foundation that builds a great civilisation and an enduring nation.
Recognising the vital importance of integrity, Malaysia’s fifth prime minister, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, launched the National Integrity Plan on April 23, 2004, simultaneously with the establishment of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM).
In his launch address, Abdullah observed that the country’s economic transformation had affected the nation’s social fabric. Modernisation, he cautioned, had eroded Malaysia’s moral values — reflected in irresponsible behaviour and a decline in civic consciousness on the roads, towards the environment, and in the care of public facilities.
He pointed to everyday examples: queue-jumping, unfriendly counter services and growing apathy.
He also voiced concern over the rise of a materialistic mentality, a desire for shortcuts and an obsession with quick wealth — alongside widespread public perceptions of corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement.
Abdullah vowed to combat corruption, foster an ethical society and revive moral values in all conduct and decision-making. For him, there was no meaning in material wealth if Malaysians became bankrupt in moral and ethical conduct and integrity.
The National Integrity Plan, launched with noble intent, outlined a broad agenda supported by five key objectives to be achieved within its first five years (2004–2008):
- First. To effectively reduce corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.
- Second. To enhance efficiency in public service delivery and overcome bureaucratic obstacles.
- Third. To strengthen corporate governance and business ethics.
- Fourth. To reinforce the family institution.
- Fifth. To improve quality of life and the overall well-being of society.
Such was the noble vision of a leader and the lofty hope of a statesman. Yet, 21 years after the launch of the National Integrity Plan, a disheartening gap remains. In fact, the divide between aspiration and reality has only widened.
Almost daily, the news reports arrests, investigations, prosecutions and trials involving corruption, breach of trust, leakages of public resources, cronyism and abuse of power. Reports expose the dominance of various cartels controlling key industries — such as poultry, fish, rice and other essential goods and services — as well as the unchecked influx of foreign and illegal workers.
There are also accounts of large-scale illegal land clearing and sprawling unlicensed factories, gambling and entertainment centres, spas, massage parlours and brothels operating openly; environmental pollution threatening livelihoods; and public projects left abandoned. Some contractors fail to complete work on schedule, buildings collapse, equipment malfunctions and procurements are made at prices far above market rates.
The nation’s image has been tarnished globally by one of the largest financial scandals in history, burdening Malaysia with heavy debts and damaging both its economy and currency value. It was reported that within the past two years alone, the government managed to recover RM15.5 billion in public funds misappropriated through corruption and money laundering.
Each year, the Auditor-General’s Report continues to expose serious weaknesses in the management of public funds — not only the failure to comply with financial standards and regulations, but also questionable practices.
Cases of smuggling and tax evasion persist, often under the very watch of those entrusted to prevent them. As the saying goes, “Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi” — trusting the very fence meant to protect, only to find it consumes the crop instead.
Worse still, these illicit acts often occur with the collusion of enforcement officers. According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the national crime index rose by 11.1% in 2024, with 58,255 reported cases, compared with 52,444 in 2023.
In 2003, before the launch of the National Integrity Plan, Malaysia ranked 37th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index. By 2024, two decades later, Malaysia had fallen 20 places to 57th position. The lowest ranking in history — 61st place — was recorded in both 2018 and 2022.
When the people of ancient China sought peace and security, they built the Great Wall. It was designed to be impenetrable, so tall, so strong, that no enemy could scale it, no force could breach it. And yet, within a century of its completion, China was invaded, not once, but three times.
The wall was never broken. It was never climbed. Instead, the gates were opened from within. The enemy did not conquer the wall; they conquered the will of the men who guarded it. What failed was not the stone, but the spirit.
The history of our nation also offers a solemn warning about the consequences of losing integrity. The fall of Melaka to the Portuguese in 1511 was not solely the result of foreign invasion; it was also enabled by betrayal from within.
Accounts in Sejarah Melayu and Tomé Pires’ Suma Oriental show that weak administration, internal power struggles and treachery among some leaders opened the door for foreign domination.
History should serve as a mirror for today’s generation: without integrity, authority becomes fragile; and without honesty, independence itself is at risk.
Every individual entrusted with responsibility — whether in government, private sector, politics, religious institutions, volunteer organisations, welfare, or sports — must regard history as a guide. Philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Sadly, the warning he gave seems to be unfolding before our eyes.
A recent New Straits Times Leader article (Oct 28) highlighted the ongoing challenges of corruption in enforcement agencies: “When crooked officers get recruited; expect a breach too far...”
Leaders of our enforcement agencies have a commendable dream: they want to rid them of crooked officers. But the reality is, the dream often turns into a nightmare. Consider what happened on Oct 14 to the Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to see why dreams become nightmares. On that day, two Indonesians were arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs off Forest City’s guarded coastline. It was reported that two smugglers might have had the help of Johor maritime security network.
Some may think that this is just an MMEA problem. Not so quick. It happened in almost every enforcement agency. Crooked officers after the “Jho Low” lifestyle are in the Immigration Department, Customs Department, Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA), police, Department of Environment, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and more...
Take MCBA, a single agency established in February to oversee all international borders in phases.
We may have thought that the more than 20 agencies that handled border checkpoints before were the cause of “cohorts” mushrooming within the organisations. Not entirely true.
Even when MCBA became a single agency, the MACC detained 27 people, including 18 MCBA officers, at the KLIA terminals 1 and 2 over alleged involvement in a “counter-setting” syndicate that facilitated foreign nationals’ entry “without following proper procedures…”
The Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), established on April 23, 2004, was created as an independent body to monitor and coordinate the National Integrity Plan. Over the past 20 years, it has been chaired by six chief secretaries to the government and led by nine chief executives. IIM’s budget has grown from RM5 million in 2004 to nearly RM18 million in 2024, with a total allocation of almost RM212 million over two decades.
Today, it has 110 staff to implement eight key objectives:
- First. Conduct research on institutional and societal integrity.
- Second. Organise conferences, seminars and forums on integrity.
- Third. Gather insights from various sectors on progress and challenges in promoting integrity.
- Fourth. Publish and distribute educational materials and implement training programmes.
- Fifth. Provide policy recommendations to strengthen ethics and integrity.
- Sixth. Build a database on integrity and ethics.
- Seventh. Advise the government on strategies to enhance integrity.
- Eighth. Develop international networks to ensure IIM’s work is recognised globally.
Indeed, IIM has been entrusted with an exceptionally broad scope of responsibilities and a weighty mandate. Despite limited funding and constrained human resources, IIM is expected to confront formidable challenges and deliver extraordinary outcomes in addressing the nation’s deepening integrity crisis.
Strategic approaches must be thoughtfully crafted, and wise actions must be deliberately pursued to ensure that efforts to instil the value of integrity yield meaningful outcomes. Only then can IIM become a dynamic force — capable of discarding what is crooked and embracing what is straight.
As the Malay proverb reminds us: “Jika berladang, biar menjadi; jika bersawah, biar berpadi.” If we cultivate, let it flourish; if we sow, let it yield rice.
IIM does not possess a magic lamp to instantly fulfil its aspirations. Its journey is long and demanding. Yet even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single strategic step. Without care, our efforts risk becoming futile — like lighting a lamp at noon, chasing shadows at night, or working tirelessly with empty hands. We may run out of thread, leave the cloth unfinished, or find the needle broken before the garment is complete. With limited funding and human resources, IIM’s mission is akin to covering oneself with a short piece of cloth — wisdom is essential to ensure that the most vital parts are protected.
Drawing upon the bounds of experience and the reach of humble knowledge, we stress that two matters demand the highest priority: first, to restore the sacred purpose of education; and second, to live fully by the first principle of the Rukun Negara — belief in God.
First priority: Restoring the sacred purpose of education
The stories of the Great Wall of China and the fall of Melaka serve as reminders that building the moral character of a people is far more important than constructing physical structures. When trust is betrayed and personal interests take precedence over the nation’s welfare, the fortress falls. Therefore, nurturing character among children in schools and students in higher learning institutions must be given utmost priority.
In recent times, the nation and society have been shaken by troubling events within our schools: bullying, violence, sexual assault, deaths and even murders committed by children under the age of 17. These incidents reflect a failure of education to fulfil its role in instilling human values, resulting in emotional crises and psychological distress. Schools, which should be the safest havens for children, are now exposed to environments that threaten their security.
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in places once considered the safest for children. The crisis we face today should not be unfairly politicised or turned into polemics to assign blame to the current leadership. In all honesty and with sincerity, we must find the courage to admit that the cancerous cells, now grown to a critical stage, began as small ones. They accumulated over time, perhaps due to our failure to act decisively and effectively at the early stages. A persistent culture of denial, the inability to acknowledge mistakes, the ego that resists correction and refuses to change, coupled with a tendency to compromise and a lack of courage to take firm corrective action, these are the factors that have allowed the malignancy to spread. We may have long neglected the sacred purpose of education, becoming overly fixated on achieving quantitative key performance indicators (KPIs), at the cost of sacrificing its qualitative values.
The MACC commissioner, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdul, once revealed incidents of corruption within schools involving both students and teachers. Reported cases have included teachers engaging in sexual misconduct under the pretext of helping students pass their exams, as well as students offering money to peers in exchange for class monitor positions. Newspapers have repeatedly reported bullying incidents — not only in recent months but stretching back over 20 years. In 2004, it was reported that the late His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Shah visited a school in Pahang, prompting the then minister of education to pledge a thorough investigation into the root causes of student bullying, accompanied by assurances to address the issue promptly.
A 2002 study by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia found that 30.5% of university student respondents were willing to accept bribes, indicating a gradual erosion of integrity among young people. A 2017 survey by the IIM on students’ perception of corruption revealed that one in three local university students did not consider accepting rewards in exchange for services as corruption. Meanwhile, 28.1% believed it was not wrong to take company property for personal use, and 37.3% considered claiming allowances for external tasks — even when fully sponsored — not a moral wrongdoing. A separate MACC study involving 1,000 university students found that 16% were willing to accept bribes, while 18.5% would do so if no consequences were enforced.
Human behaviour reflects the character and upbringing of individuals. Let us collectively assess the attitudes and conduct displayed in three separate road accident incidents: two occurring in villages in Malaysia, and the third in a non-Muslim country.
On July 26, 2017, local newspapers reported villagers crowding to collect spilled rice from a truck. On July 31, 2019, a trailer carrying milk overturned in a village, scattering thousands of boxes on the road; a 34-second video circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp showing villagers rushing to collect the milk and take it home.
Another video, sent under the name “Agenda Melayu Mahawangsa” to Utusan Malaysia, recorded an incident on July 28, 2019, where three tonnes of bottled Cola fell onto a highway in a non-Muslim country. Pedestrians and drivers cooperated to collect the bottles and return them to the truck driver — none were lost.
The responses observed across all three incidents reflect differing levels of integrity demonstrated by community members at the scene.
Society today is right to ask: has an overemphasis on examination-grade KPIs pushed aside the fundamental philosophy and true purpose of education? Have we become so fixated on rankings and statistics that we neglect to shape character?
In the pursuit of academic excellence, have we sacrificed spiritual and moral development? Are we unknowingly responsible for raising a generation devoid of empathy, humanity and moral awareness? Children are drilled to answer exam questions mechanically and intensively, but do they understand how to empathise with and respect others’ feelings?
Education is not solely about producing the smartest individuals; it is even more about nurturing the most humane. Since independence, the nation and government have prioritised education programmes with substantial budget allocations. The 2026 budget allocates RM66.2 billion to the Ministry of Education and RM18.6 billion to the Ministry of Higher Education. Yet, these figures remain meaningless if the true purpose of education is unfulfilled, if young minds remain empty of values, and if the current educational focus fails to produce thoughtful, morally grounded individuals with a clear sense of purpose.
Integrity is not born spontaneously. It is not shaped by a beautifully written plan on paper, nor is it achieved simply by establishing an institution.
Integrity is cultivated through continuous education — nurtured at home, reinforced at school, strengthened by society and inspired by exemplary leadership. Parents play the most crucial role in planting the seeds of integrity in their children, for the home is a child’s first school. This aligns with the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) saying: “Every child is born in a state of fitrah (natural purity), and it is the parents who make him a Jew, Christian, or Magian.”
This underscores that the responsibility to instil integrity begins with spiritual and moral education by parents and is later continued by teachers, leaders and society.
Confucius emphasised that the strength of a nation is built on the practice of integrity, and its values must first be sown at home. Unesco’s 2023 report, “Reimagining Education for Integrity and Ethics”, recommends that global education systems cultivate honesty, responsibility and empathy from an early age to counter the growing prevalence of fraud and corruption — behaviours increasingly carried out without shame or remorse. Failure to do so weakens the nation, erodes competitiveness and leaves its people to bear the consequences.
The impact of educators in nurturing integrity can be seen in Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s book, Rapid-Fire: Rafidah Being First, where she recalls the lasting influence of a primary school teacher: “I did not become a Christian, as my grandfather feared, when I enrolled at the convent. In fact, the moral lessons we were taught were invaluable. For example, we learned that if one found a five-sen coin on the floor, it should not be taken, as it could belong to someone’s recess money or bus fare home. The coin should be handed to the teacher to identify the rightful owner and return it.”
Clearly, the sacred meaning of education must be restored. Education is about guidance, not mere instruction. Teachers are not merely conveyors of knowledge, they are sowers of values. True education builds the mind and the soul, integrating intellect, emotion and morality to nurture individuals who are not only intelligent but also noble in character. Inculcating integrity must begin in schools so that young people understand that success without honesty brings no blessing. Schools and universities should therefore serve not only as centres of knowledge but also as institutions for moral formation.
Second priority: Upholding the first principle of the Rukun Negara — Belief in God
Integrity elevates human dignity in the eyes of God and fellow human beings. It is repeatedly emphasised in the Quran and reflected in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The primary reminder for integrity is the awareness that every action is recorded and will be accounted for before God. As Allah says in Surah Al-Infitar, verses 10-12: “Indeed, over you are appointed angels, noble in rank, recording whatever you do.”
On the Day of Judgement, when we stand on the Mahsyar Plain and are tried in the Court of the Almighty, we will no longer have defence lawyers or witnesses to plead our case, for every part of our body will testify to the true deeds we performed in this fleeting world. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “There are four things whose impact will never vanish from this world: fulfilling trusts, speaking the truth, having good character, and being cautious with unlawful food.”
Integrity is emphasised by all religions, philosophies, cultures and civilisations. In the Bible, it is written: “So, you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.”
In the Bhagavad Gita, a key Hindu text, it is stated: “In battle, in the forest, at the precipice in the mountains, on the dark great sea, in the midst of javelins and arrows, in sleep, in confusion, in the depths of shame, the good deeds a man has done before, defend him.”
Guru Nanak reminds his followers: “He prospers for a while through unrighteousness, then he gains great good fortune, next conquers his enemies, but at last he perishes, branch and root; so, follow the path of honesty.”
Buddhist teachings instruct: “They should esteem public morality, honour virtuous conduct, listen to honourable teachers and make offerings to them.”
Truly, cultivating integrity is a long journey, demanding patience, exemplary conduct and perseverance. Do not be seduced by the hype of false success. Tales of easy victories can lull people into complacency, so that when reality strikes, the damage is already severe. It is therefore vital to train the mind to remain critical, capable of analysing the authenticity of achievements rather than being distracted by scripted performances on the stage of success.
Promoting a culture of integrity is not merely about introducing policies or slogans; it requires a transformation of mindset and attitude, fostered through education, reflection, courage to admit mistakes, openness to feedback and, above all, leadership by example.
Scholars assert that religion cannot flourish, nor can society truly prosper, without trustworthy leaders. The virtue of a nation is shaped by the character of its leaders. Islamic sociologist Ibn Khaldun emphasised that the quality and values of a nation’s leadership determine the nation’s welfare. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “If Allah wishes a nation to prosper, He will grant that nation good leaders.”
President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye, despite being only 45 years old, exemplifies the humility of a servant before God, reflecting wisdom and prudence in his words of counsel: “I am neither a sanctified deity nor an idol to be worshipped. I am merely a servant of Allah and a steward to this nation entrusted to me.”
Hang up pictures of your children, and look into their faces each time you make a decision, and whenever temptation whispers to commit wrongdoing or to misuse public funds.
Remember that one day you will stand before Allah and be questioned about this trust. So, look at the faces of those you love and ask yourself: “Would Allah be pleased if my family became the family of a thief who betrays his country and nation?”
When Saidina Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq (PBUH) was appointed Caliph, He delivered His inaugural speech: “I have been chosen as a leader, though I am not the best among you. If I do good, support me; if I err, correct me. Truth is a trust, and falsehood is a betrayal. No wicked deed spreads among a people except that Allah will bring calamity upon them. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you have no obligation of obedience toward me.”
O Sovereign of all dominion! Appoint for our affairs those among us who are the best. Do not appoint the worst among us. Protect our nation from destruction caused by corruption; entrust leadership and governance to Your servants who are trustworthy and sincere, firm and courageous in upholding truth, and committed to justice in accordance with the law.
May the National Integrity Month be celebrated in a spirit of mutual counsel, in line with the call of Surah al-‘Asr: “By time, indeed mankind is in loss, except those who have faith, do righteous deeds, and encourage one another to patience.”
May Allah, the Exalted, bless every effort to build a nation of integrity — a land that is good, safe, prosperous and graced with divine forgiveness, “baldatun tayyibatun warabbun ghaffur”, as described in the Quran, Surah Saba, verse 15.
This is an excerpt of the address by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the launch of the National Integrity Month 2025 on Nov 5 in Ipoh
This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 10, 2025 - November 16, 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment