Polygraph test will help enhance public trust – Entulu

SIBU: The polygraph test suggested by Transparency International Malaysia when implemented will help enhance public trust on the civil service, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu.

He said the lie detector test will strengthen the credibility and integrity of civil servants.

“Yes, I agree with the suggestion as this is a move in the right direction to further uplift the image of civil service in the country.

“Therefore, civil servants especially those whose positions involve handling of public fund, those transferred or promoted be subject to the lie detector test.

“Furthermore, the test should also be administered to the new employees so that the government can gauge the level of integrity among them,” Entulu told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar’s recent suggestion for the polygraph test to be introduced in the civil service to detect abuse among its employees.

As Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Entulu oversees Public Services Commission ( PSC) besides the other two portfolios, namely Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning ( Mampu) and Education Service Commission ( ESC).

Meanwhile, Akhbar reportedly said such a test would not only help to identify corrupt employees, but also provide opportunities to those accused of doing so to clear their names.

Akhbar, who is also Malaysian Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, was further quoted to have said that the polygraph test had been used widely by various sectors in more than 80 countries, including Singapore and Thailand.

In Malaysia, he added, the test was only used by enforcement agencies for investigation purpose and by some private companies when conducting an internal inquiry or recruiting new staff.

An English daily on the other hand, recently reported that the PSC agreed to reintroduce the polygraph test to address corruption among civil servants.

The newspaper quoted PSC as saying that it was prepared to discuss with government agencies to decide on civil employees who should have the test and its frequency.