Mahathir: A lavish lifestyle is evidence of corruption
Former PM says the country’s courts should accept lavish lifestyles as evidence enough to suspect an individual of being corrupt.
(Free Malaysia Today) – It is easy enough to detect corruption among politicians and leaders as their lavish lifestyles was a good enough indicator and the courts should take action against them for it, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said this during an anti-corruption conference, and explained that owning a string of luxurious cars, for instance was indicative of graft, and if the court was to take action based on that alone, there would be less corruption in the country.
“If you want to detect corruption at the highest level, look at his lifestyle,” he said in his speech at the ‘Malaysia’s War On Corruption Symposium 2015’ held at Pullman Hotel in Bangsar here today.
Dr Mahathir also explained how someone who was corrupt would not be able to resist spending the money, as “accumulating boxes of money and then dying is no fun.”
“Unfortunately, if you go to a court of law, that is not sufficient evidence. (The) court wants to see people coming forward and saying, ‘he took money from me’.
“The court should accept the evidence of lavish lifestyles as sufficient to take action on anyone suspected of being corrupt.
“If you have this happening, there would be less chance of people in high places becoming corrupt,” he added.
