The number of young people involved with corruption is becoming a concern when they made up 61 percent of those detained in Penang between January and June this year.

Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director, Latifah Md Yatim, said 27 out of 44 people arrested for alleged corruption during the period in the state were between 15 and 40 years old.

She said that last year, the young people made up 71 percent of those arrested for alleged corruption.

In 2007, the young people comprised 62 percent of those arrested by MACC, while in 2008, it was 74 percent and in 2009, 54 percent, Latifah told reporters after a forum on Islamic affairs in Butterworth today.

The forum, organised by the Penang MACC, was also attended by the Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri, Abdul Rahman Abbas, and his wife, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff.

At the national level, Latifah said, out of 501 people arrested by MACC between January and Jun this year, 277 of them were young people.

She said the involvement of youths in corruption was because they wanted to avoid legal action, like students who offered bribes to policemen when they were stopped for not wearing crash helmets, driving without a licence or if their vehicles had expired road tax.

Another reason for people to be corrupt, she said, was due to their desire to live in luxury.

"They want to live in luxury, but their income is not enough. This drives them to be involved in corruption," Latifah added.

- Bernama