Onus upon all to eradicate corrupt practices, says Talib
SIBU: Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip calls upon the people to stress on integrity in all aspects of their daily lives as this can help them steer clear of negative elements such as corruption, cheating and stealing.
He points out that every time corruption occurs, it is the responsibility of all parties to eradicate it, he adds.
“Upon sighting any element of corruption, report the matter as corruption is an act of stealing the rights of the public; not individual rights, but our rights. For example, if there are people stealing logs, it means that our rights are being stolen too,” he said in his opening remarks for the Similajau National Park’s ‘Integrity Walk’ in Bintulu yesterday.
The programme, themed ‘Be Clean, Be Green, Be Integrity’, was run by Sarawak Forestry Corporation(SFC) Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (Union) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
It involved some 500 people including representatives of government agencies, students from institutions of higher learning and the local folk.
Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Bintulu District Officer Muhammad Dino Amid, SFC chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton, MACC Sarawak director Razim Mohd Noor, and Union chief integrity officer from the Chief Minister’s Department, Zulhairy Zaidel were also present.
Talib, who is Jepak assemblyman, said the government envisioned a community with high integrity and also a progressive and integrity state come 2030.
In this regard, he called upon the community to uphold good practices and noble values, and also to instil the culture of ‘hating corruption’ in themselves.
“I hope this could be achieved not just for today, but in time to come; not just be clean physically, but to be pure in heart… (upholding) the need for green environment, making the community with integrity and continuing this noble practice,” he said.
On another development, Talib slammed individuals placing the Jalur Gemilang upside down as ‘those without integrity’ and ‘those devaluing the spirit of patriotism’.
“It has been over 60 years since Independence, but there are still those who do not know how to fly the national flag – it (such action) is made on purpose; one that exemplifies severe lack of integrity and patriotism.”
Meanwhile in his remarks, Zolkipli described the Integrity Walk as ‘a move to promote the efforts in tackling environmental issues’.
He added that this would strengthen the integrity culture through the conduct of related activities such as ‘plogging’ (jogging while picking up garbage), planting of trees and conducting visits to the interpretation centre in Similajau National Park.
It is recorded that this year to date, the park has received 11,475 visitors.