For reporting graft
> MACC wants more civil servants to come forward
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) wants more civil servants to lodge reports on corruption and bribery under its “cash incentives” programme.
Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, said the commission is also mulling creative campaigns to ensure more people participate in the programme.
“We should not look at this (cash incentives) initiative as the only MACC programme to encourage reports. There’s a lot of other programmes that we do in our effort to curb corruption.
“We just want to recognise people who are free from corruption. I don’t think the move is wrong.
“However, we also should look at creative campaigns to encourage people to participate,” Dzulkifli said during a press conference after he launched the Mara-level Anti-Corruption Revolution Movement (Gerah) and 3J (Jangan Hulur, Jangan Kawtim, Jangan Settle – Don’t Offer, Don’t Collude, Don’t Settle) campaign at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan yesterday.
MACC introduced the cash incentives scheme in 2011 where civil servants who reported corruption cases would receive a reward in the form of cash with the same value of the bribe involved.
The incentive will only be given on the condition the case is investigated and the accused charged and convicted.
Only 214 people have come forward to lodge a report since the programme’s inception.
Dzulkifli said whistleblowers should not be afraid to give information as they are protected under laws such as the Witness Protection Act 2009 (Act 696) and Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
“We will never leak the whistleblower’s personal information as it is protected.”
On a separate issue, Dzulkifli said a positive perception towards the anti-graft body has been cultivated by the people after its various investigations and arrests.
He said the public believes the level of corruption has decreased thanks to the agency’s aggressive actions.