The government has not forgotten its pledge to battle corruption as stated in the Barisan Nasional 2004 election manifesto, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to Bernama, Abdullah said the ruling coalition's anti-corruption pledge was the foundation that shaped the government's development and administrative policy.

The premier said this in a written reply to parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) on why BN's anti-graft pledge had not materialised and whether this was incorporated into the upcoming Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Abdullah argued that the government had taken 'holistic' measures that encompassed both punitive and preventive actions by government agencies, in particular the Anti-Corruption Agency.

He said that this can be seen from the rise in the number of arrests in relation to corruption cases in the past two years.

The number of people charged in court for corruption had increased from 175 in 2003 to 205 in 2005. This was a 17 percent increase, added the premier.

Time consuming

As for the prevention of corruption, especially the development of positive values, Abdullah said this would take time before it can be realised completely.

"In the context of inculcating integrity values, the important thing in the initial stage is to create awareness among individuals and the society on the importance of these values," he added.

Abdullah said only when there is awareness can change be effected.

The premier said the government has taken several concrete steps to create awareness on the functions and importance of integrity such as the National Integrity Plan and the establishment of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

All ministries have been tasked with implementing the plan and a special parliamentary select committee on integrity has been formed to discuss and receive inputs from MPs and the public.

The institute, he added, will be explaining to the public about the integrity plan and hold numerous seminars on the topic.

"It is not true that the government has not kept its election promises, " said Abdullah, referring to efforts already made.

The premier, who took the helm in 2003, secured a landslide victory in the general elections held the following year, in which anti-corruption was one of BN's major planks.