TIME FOR LOKE TO RESTORE RTD’S BATTERED IMAGE
IREFER to the report “RTD won’t interfere in MACC investigations” (NST, April 18) where 24 Road Transport Department (RTD) officers and six civilians were taken to court for allegedly protecting lorry drivers who committed road offences in Penang by receiving monthly protection money of between RM10,000 and RM32,000.
What makes this case different is that the 24 RTD personnel were hauled up at one go. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) later detained another 22 officers.
Is this just a one-off thing? Your guess is as good as mine.
KL RTD director Datuk Ismail Mohd Zawawi said there were a few bad apples and that although an integrity unit had been established, it was difficult to monitor all 337 personnel.
On the one hand, when enforcement is weak, the head of department will scream that it doesn’t have enough manpower, but when the department is fully staffed, we get an explanation that it is difficult to monitor all staff.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has done an incredible job, but not on corruption-related matters.
Now is the time for him to task himself with the responsibility of cleaning up RTD and restoring its image.
He has to send a strong message to the management on the importance of integrity and if a leader is corrupt, he loses the right to question his subordinates.
Loke must also revisit RTD’s whistle-blowing policy, if there is one, to encourage whistle-blowing, and promote the reporting of corrupt activities. Standard operating procedures need to be tightened.
Although we have a new government, the structure and culture that shaped the previous government are in place. This has to be addressed.
They say it takes two to tango. Loke should not only investigate RTD officers, but also the givers, that is, lorry companies and operators.
Remind them of the Corporate Liability Provision (Section 17A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Act 2018, which criminalises companies that corruptly give or agree to give any gratification with intent to obtain/retain an advantage in the conduct of business for the commercial organisation.
In other words, if the commercial organisation is found liable under the corporate liability provision, a person — who is the director, controller, officer or partner of the organisation at the time of commission of an offence — is deemed to have committed that offence.
The government must implement the National Anti-Corruption Plan (2019-2023).
Also, could a similar provision (Section 17A) be enacted for government departments vulnerable to corrupt practices, such as the police, RTD and the Customs Department? The directors-general or inspector-general of police could be held responsible for corrupt practices of their staff if they have not done enough to police their officers.