PUTRAJAYA – Corruption and power abuse among civil servants in the country is like a cancer, one that will slowly damage institutions of governance.
Based on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) statistics from 2015 until October this year, 2,607 civil servants were arrested for corrupt practices.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Seri Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the majority of arrests involved those in the implementing group with 1,884 individuals, followed by management and professional groups with 658 people.
“The top management group recorded 65 individuals. We don’t want a situation (like this)... these individuals... will hinder the smooth development of the country and tarnish the credibility of civil servants.
"Because of that, efforts to address and ensure the country, especially the civil service, is free of corruption, are a shared responsibility and not (a burden) on the shoulders of the MACC alone," he said at the MACC office here recently.
Shamshun Baharin said in conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day today, the MACC will focus on local government authorities (PBT) with the theme “PBT Against Bribery”.
He said that local authorities is a focus in the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), and the commission is prepared to assist local authorities in dealing with corruption and abuse of power, as well as other malpractices, to transform them into into an organisation with high integrity that is corruption-free.
"There are many issues in the PBT, not only corruption, but also service issues,” he added.
He suggested local authorities develop their own Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan (OACP) to combat corruption comprehensively, thus showing the commitment of all their employees in the fight against corruption.
He said the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) was among the first of 149 local authorities in Malaysia to develop the plan.
This reflects the commitment and support of MPT staff in the fight against corruption, and further inspires the MACC to continue to fight corruption and power abuse, he added.
“We are willing to assist other local authorities in preparing the OACP by providing advice and to work with the officers involved," he said. – Bernama, December 9, 2020
