PUTRAJAYA – Only 0.01% of the country’s 1.6 million civil servants are brave enough to report corrupt practices in their departments and agencies, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief (prevention) Datuk Seri Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil.
The figure remains low despite the various incentives offered for them to report such matters, he told Bernama in an interview at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters here recently.
Based on MACC’s data, he said, only 343 civil servants came forward to provide information on corrupt practices between 2012 and last year.
“Civil servants have to understand that it is an offence for them to accept bribes, and they should report it if they are offered bribes. Action can be taken.
“By doing so, they can help prevent incidents of people requesting favours and privileges (from civil servants), like getting approvals for applications without going through the proper regulations and procedures.
“We want this to be a culture among civil servants, to lodge reports on corrupt practices. This will eliminate corruption and power abuse in the civil service.”
He cited a letter issued by the chief secretary to the government’s office in 2011, on guidelines for the recognition given to civil servants who report bribery, with those who do so to get an incentive of the same amount as the bribe offered.
MACC disbursed about RM600,000 as incentives to 343 civil servants until end-2019 for lodging reports on graft in their departments and agencies.
It is civil servants’ duty to report bribery, and those who fail to do so could face action under Section 25 of the MACC Act 2009, which provides a fine of up to RM100,000, or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both, upon conviction.
He said the first case where the law was applied involved five Finance Ministry employees, who were fined between RM1,500 and RM2,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on December 2.
Shamshun Baharin said there is a need for departments and agencies to provide protection to staff who report graft.
He gave an assurance that MACC will protect those who provide information on corruption, as provided for under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and Witness Protection Act 2009. – Bernama, December 8, 2020
