KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal reminded organisations, be it public or private sectors on the importance of ridding corruption and ensuring that such practice does not spread in their respective department.
Shafie said corruption would only lead to a negative impact which not only affects the image of that particular organisation but also the production value as well as projects that are being implemented especially at the grass root levels which could only lead to wastage of funds.
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“If we are involved in this (corruption) activity, for sure the value of services or projects that we carry out in the interest of the people would drop. For example, roads would be shorter (than originally planned) and it would not last longer and will need more financing for the repairing works.
“But if we could practice an efficient administrative system with integrity and not being involved in any unhealthy activities, for sure this would produce a good service and product as well as projects to the people at grass root level,” he told a press conference after launching the 2019 Conference on Corporate Liability – Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009, here, Monday.
Also present were Suria Capital Holdings Berhad Chairman, Tan Sri Ibrahim Menudin and Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance President Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff, among others.
He also emphasised that such action against corruption would also ensure that leakage would not occur and instead the funds could be used for other necessary development that could benefit the people, particularly for Sabahans.
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He also said that war on corruption would be a great contribution in speeding up or resuming projects that are being implemented and that there would not be any allocation blockage from time to time.
“So it is very important for all concerned parties to play their roles not only (in terms of) enforcement (but also) Units such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), integrity agencies, civil servant and private sectors to join forces in ensuring that this is an agenda that we succeed,” he added.
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Meanwhile earlier in his speech, Shafie assured that the State Government is committed to act professionally, fairly and with integrity in any official projects or business dealing as well as relationship with organisations.
He urged civil servants and officers to be conscientious and conduct transaction in an honest and ethical manner and ban any form of bribery and corruption whether it is being carried out directly or indirectly.
“There is no room for corrupt activities, no room for dishonesty, fraud, extortion, and abuse of public office.
“Tackling it (corruption) is not only a matter of fairness, but also crucial to boost the country’s potential economic growth.
“For instance, foreign investors will shy away from countries with high incidences of corruption as it generates element of uncertainty in the returns to investment and reduces investment profitability, and the people will be at the losing end as it affects our development,” he said.
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Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009 introduces corporate liability in Malaysia and is said to be a powerful catalyst to move companies towards establishing necessary procedures in preventing corruption.
It was gazetted in May 2018 via the MACC (Amendment) Act 2018 will come into force on June 1, next year.
