Anti-graft fight must be given full support: Lee
Published on: Sunday, July 23, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The fight against corruption must be given the fullest support not only by the government but also by all sectors of society."We cannot be unconcerned and complacent about corruption because it attacks not only the economic and social fabric of society but also the moral foundations of order," said Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation Senior Vice Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) initiative to introduce the Corruption-Free Pledge should be supported as it will help ensure that every party who signs the pledge will be more ethical and disciplined in carrying out their duties.
ADVERTISEMENT
"As the brainchild of the MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad himself, the Corruption-Free Pledge emphasises on oath voluntarily taken by an organisation's leadership and members to hold each of them accountable and responsible and to hinder them from engaging in any corruption misconduct throughout their tenure," he said. As of July 14, this year, some 249 organisations across the nation have signed the Corruption-Free Pledge namely government ministries (15), departments (96), state governments and their agencies (70), statutory bodies (29), universities (7), private sector (8), government-linked company, non-governmental organisations and associations (22) and foundations (2)."According to the MACC, the openness and accountability displayed by the leadership and staff in signing the Corruption-Free Pledge also attest that fighting and combating corruption is a collective duty and responsibility of all members of the society, particularly those serving in government agencies."I believe that when it comes to fighting corruption, it is everybody's role to ensure the success of various efforts including the Corruption-Free Pledge.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This pledge should not only involve the public servants but also those from the private sector and I hope more private corporations would sign the Corruption-Free Pledge," he said. He said among others, the Corruption-Free Pledge serves as a warning and reminder to individuals to stay away from corruption and ensures that the organisation's leadership, members, stakeholders and customers play their role to prevent corruption.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Those who sign the pledge have also openly agreed to give individual commitment in combating corruption and take the necessary steps to prevent corruption. He said the Corruption-Free Pledge will be meaningless if it is not being practised and everyone must embrace integrity culture from now on since corruption and power abuse have increasingly become serious problems in recent years, especially among the civil servants."From 2016 to last February, the MACC"s records show that 665 investigation papers across the nation were opened involving civil servants. "I often raise the issue of integrity among the civil servants as I believe that it is a cancer that will damage the government and cripple the economy if not properly handled," he said. He said Malaysia's ranking in the Corruption Perception Index has also dropped to 55th spot last year compared to 54th in 2015. "To help improve our ranking, I believe that the public service should practise a work culture with good values instead of making slogans and promises every year. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
