The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has stepped up its latest campaign against graft by going after those who give bribes to public officers to settle cases.

According to The Star today, more than 15 suspects are due to be charged in courts nationwide tomorrow for allegedly offering bribes, as part of the commission's 'Anti-Corruption Revolution Movement' or Gerah campaign, which was launched on Monday.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki was reported as saying that bribe givers are as guilty as the takers, and it was high time to show that no one would be spared.

“This is part of our Gerah and 3J campaigns to remind the people not to give, collude in or settle cases.

“We need to educate the public that it is also a no-no to offer bribes to be let off for committing an offence, even minor ones like traffic,” Azam was reported telling The Star.

“We have issued enough reminders. Stop it now or prepare to face the music.”

According to the English daily, the 15 to be charged tomorrow include contractors, businessmen, the self-employed and private sector workers, aged 20 to 50 years, from Selangor, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang.

The daily quoted a source as saying that the offences involved offering bribes to enforcement officers, such as police and JPJ officers, to avoid action in mostly traffic-related offences.

Gerah is a once-a-month programme in which MACC officers will meet with members of the public, on the first Monday of each month, to raise awareness on corruption.

Accompanying it is the 3J programme or 'Jangan Hulur, Jangan Kawtim, Jangan Settle' (Don't Give, Don't Settle).

The campaign yesterday saw a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) project manager and a renovation company owner detained for allegedly receiving bribes, and a 42-year-old contractor detained in a probe into misappropriation and criminal breach of trust involving the Penang Tithe Centre (Zakat Pulau Pinang).