Corruption had become so rampant that it was done over the table instead of under the table in the past few years, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"I used to say previously, when corruption was an 'under the table' act, that it was a scourge to our nation's future.

"But the last few years saw corruption becoming an 'over the table' act, committed openly by the top leaders”

He added that it had become acceptable then and those who did not do it were considered stupid.