KUALA LUMPUR: Corruption must be handled by the relevant agencies without fear or favour, said Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah.

He said that the truth, based upon the law, must be upheld as it is a responsibility not only to the Almighty, but also to the country.

“Corruption is a cancer that is said to be spreading to the country’s spine.

“It is like a nest of termites that grows and causes the pillars of a country to rot,” the Sultan said in his speech at the Utusan Business Awards 2015 yesterday.

Also present at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah, the mother of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Sultan said Malaysia has carved its name in the region due to its ability to draft and implement policies and laws that are fair and transparent.

These policies have succeeded in attracting investors both internationally and locally to do business in Malaysia.

“It takes time to build trust and confidence, but the damage can be done in a blink of an eye.

“Malaysia only scored 50 out of 100 marks in Transparency International’s 2015 corruption perception index and ranked 54 out of the 168 countries surveyed,” he said.

The Sultan said that failure to tackle corruption in a serious, effective and committed manner had the potential to cripple a country, leaving the people to suffer like those in underdeveloped nations.

He also acknowledged Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad’s contribution to the nation.

The Sultan said that the group, through its publications, must play an active role in building an administration and a nation that is intolerant of corruption.

“Corruption is corruption, regardless of who commits it.

“The people should be nurtured to hate corruption and reject leaders who are corrupt.

“The people should look at corruption and feel disgusted by it,” he added.

The Sultan also voiced his disappointment when Utusan Melayu, the original jawi scripted newspaper, was discontinued.

He said Utusan Melayu was a historical institution that fought for and championed the Malays.

“In its last moments, I was informed that when Utusan Melayu sought and begged for support, it was treated like a beggar by those who had become captains of various conglomerates, industries and companies; who did not show any willingness to help or provide a lifeline to continue its legacy,” he said.

The Sultan also said Utusan Malaysia is not racist.

He added that those who say so have an agenda and want to destroy the social contract derived by the country’s forefathers.

The Utusan Business Awards are awards of 31 different categories to recognise existing and upcoming enterprises and their contributions to the Malaysian economy.

Sultan Nazrin, who is the royal patron of the event, also presented to Rahah the Anugerah Tokoh Negarawan Ulung, accorded to Malaysia’s second prime minister and her late husband, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.