Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah is worried that the disproportionate distribution of wealth and the widening income gap would fertilise the culture of corruption.
Speaking at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) anniversary today, Sultan Nazrin said the nation is facing a major challenge.
"This is not a temporary sore throat which can be cured with Strepsils.
"It is a serious social illness that requires intensive treatment from social doctors and surgeons.
"It requires a medical formula from the social pharmacy, which is capable of drawing up a comprehensive and holistic social policy," he said.
Sultan Nazrin questioned what options civil servants or private sector employees have when their salaries do not commensurate with the daily cost of living.
"The majority in this category actually do not wish to take bribes.
"The number of those in this category will increase if an effective formula is not introduced, with focus on housing, food, transport and healthcare," he added.
Greed plunges man into sin
The NEM report revealed that 80 percent of the households earned less than RM5,000 a month, 40 percent less than RM2,000 whereas 78.6 percent of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributors earn less than RM3,000 a month.
The sultan also referred to the request by civil servants union (Cuepacs) for banks to include more RM10 notes in their ATM machines.
This, he said, showed that at certain times, a number of ATM card holders had less than the minimum RM50 in their accounts.
The Perak ruler also underlined two prerequisites in combating corruption which involved stern and non-selective punitive measures as well as preventive action to strengthen integrity.
He cited the example of the first magistrate appointed in Penang more than 200 years ago during the colonial era who was terminated for bribery.
"Taking stern action which is not selective is not an option but a must," he added.
As for preventive measures, Sultan Nazrin said this required initiatives to ensure that people possess the will power to refrain from such practices.
Greed, he added, is often the factor that plunges man into sin.
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