Yayasan Sabah, Labuan dept take graft-free pledge
KOTA KINABALU: Yayasan Sabah Group showed its support for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) by taking the corruption-free pledge yesterday, in an effort to curb corruption and abuse of power.
Its director, Datuk Sapawi Ahmad, said the undertaking and signing of the pledge solidified the commitment of Yayasan Sabah's top management and staff in bearing the responsibility and accountability of preventing instances of corruption.
He also said the pledge empowers management and staff to combat corruption and instil values of personal integrity, as well as a sense of responsibility in carrying out their duties.
“Fighting corruption must first start from personal integrity and sincerity to reject bribes.
“With this pledge, it not only reminds staff of those values but also serves as a reminder to all employees regardless of position to steer clear of corruption and that it will not be tolerated.
“Furthermore, the pledge outlines the direction of the management and establishes clear leadership principles on corruption issues,” he said.
Sapawi also disclosed that an Integrity Unit had been set up within the Group for the purposes of strengthening such values.
'Awareness sessions were conducted on October 4 last year and May 25 this year, to ensure Yayasan Sabah Group employees acted with honesty.
“Any and all complaints pertaining to Yayasan Sabah Group staff performing unsatisfactorily can be channelled to the Integrity Unit,” he said.
The Department of Youth and Sports Labuan also signed the corruption-free pledge yesterday, making it the 13th government department in Labuan to do so.
Led by its director Mohd Hazzan Dahari, 29 members of the staff including senior officers took their oath verbally before MACC Labuan director Assistant Commissioner Abdulamin Abdillah, which was held at the department's office at Labuan Sport Complex.
After the pledge, all of them placed their signatures on the IBR document with Abdulamin signing off as the witness.
Government agencies in Labuan that had so far signed the IBR were the Health Department, Police, Immigration Department, Inland Revenue Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Labuan Hospital, Fisheries Department, Farmers' Organization Authority, Labuan Corporation and Royal Malaysian Customs Department among others.
Abdulamin in his speech hoped officers in the department would say no to corruption and uphold their integrity while discharging their duty.
"I want the staff in the department to report graft cases or element of graft or abuse of power to the MACC.
“The entire workforce of Labuan Youth and Sports Department, including heads of department took the pledge, which can be seen as a manifestation of their support and commitment towards eradicating corruption,” he said.