Inculcating integrity

THE decision by the Public Service Department to transfer 50 civil servants who hold sensitive positions in government ministries beginning this month is a step in the right direction in preventing corruption in the civil service.

Government employees who have served between five and 10 years in finance, contract and procurement divisions may have established close relations with people who have dealings with their respective divisions.

Therefore, it is not wise for these employees to be in their positions for too long as there may be “opportunities” to be involved in fraudulent or corrupt practices.

The Public Service circular has a provision on the transfer of civil servants holding sensitive positions between three and five years within or outside their ministries or departments. It is only a matter of putting it into practice.

At the same time, there should be a watertight SOP in the government procurement system and strict internal control and monitoring to plug any loophole that can be exploited by dishonest staff.

While the move to rotate civil servants is welcomed, it is not the only and best solution. In the final analysis, what is more important is to develop a culture of integrity within the civil service. It is necessary to develop a work culture which incorporates discipline, accountability, responsibility and integrity so that civil servants will discharge their duties honestly and transparently.

Ethics and good moral values are essential if the country is to have a clean, efficient and trustworthy administration. The inculcation of noble and ethical values, accompanied by adherence to the oath of good governance, is actually the most effective way to fight corruption in the civil service.

An honest and high integrity person is not likely to commit corrupt practices in whatever circumstances.

Corruption happens when individuals without moral conscience misuse their position or authority to exploit the flaws in the system for their own gain. That is why it is essential for Malaysia to have civil servants who lead honest lives.

Everyone should be aware that it is not worth his or her while to give in to the temptation of fraud, bribery or corruption because, in the long run, the law will catch up with them.

While integrity and good moral values are inculcated in civil servants through continuous training and courses, the staff should also be encouraged to file reports on suspected corrupt practices. They need to know that exposing fraud or corruption is one of the main ways to eradicate it.

We have the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 that provides protection to those who voluntarily come forward to report or reveal information on corrupt activities.

The latest case, where a 56-yearold official with the Youth and Sports Ministry was arrested for allegedly embezzling RM107mil of government funds, should be a wake-up call for all government departments and agencies to step up their efforts to fight corruption.