Stay clean, firms told

Bank Islam’s integrity hotline lauded

KUALA LUMPUR: More local and multinational companies will be blacklisted for corruption, said Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

To date, a local and a multinational company have been blacklisted from taking up any contracts for a year in the country.

“The multinational company has been blacklisted for bribery and the local company for corruption, and more to come ... if we allow companies to be involved in such malpractices, we are not going to move forward to becoming a corruption-free country,” Abu Kassim said after witnessing the signing of the Bank Islam Corporate Integrity Pledge (CIP) here yesterday.

He urged companies to have a written policy against corruption, stating that this would prevent dual policies and weaknesses to creep in.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd became the first Islamic financial institution to commit to the CIP. Its managing director Datuk Seri Zukri Samat said the signing was reflective of the bank’s commitment towards creating a corruption-free business environment and abide by principles of integrity in all its dealings.

“Bank Islam should lead thewayin denouncing corruption as it is ingrained in the teachings of Islam to be fair and just in our business dealings,” he said at the signing ceremony here yesterday.

The bank also launched its Integrity Hotline 1-800-22-0091 for staff and customers to call to report corruption.

Zukri said whistleblowers would be treated with strict anonymity.

Abu Kassim lauded Bank Islam for creating the integrity hotline and said it was an important channel for whistleblowers to report corruption cases.

He also suggested that the bank emulate the MACC’S “name and shame” database.

He said 73 companies had signed the CIP since 2010.

“The CIP will boost confidence among stakeholders that businesses are operating without any hidden risks,” he added.