MACC: Good if public and private sectors practise CIP

PETALING JAYA: The Corporate Integrity Pledge (CIP) is a voluntary action, but the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission believes that it is an effective measure in addressing corrupt practices in both the public and private sector.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said every company in Malaysia should make this unilateral declaration against corrupt practices and express its resolve to work towards a highly principled business environment.

“By signing the pledge, companies are reflecting their sincerity and commitment towards preventing corruption, hence raising awareness among employees and providing a means of control and discipline for the management.

“It sends a clear signal to all staff that their employers are serious in combating all forms of corrupt practices,” he said in an interview.

On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Paul Low told delegates at the CIP Conference 2016 that dealing with corruption should not just be the task of the MACC.

Shamsun Baharin said thus far, 864 organisations signed the pledge. They are 179 from the public sector, 661 from the private sector and 25 non-governmental organisations.

“We will work closely and assist them if any issue arises,” Shamsun Baharin said.

The five key areas of the pledge are, committing to promote values of integrity, transparency, accountability and good corporate governance; strengthening internal systems that support corruption prevention; complying with laws, policies and procedures relating to fighting corruption; fighting any form of corrupt practice and supporting corruption prevention initiatives by the Government and the MACC.

Shamsun Baharin added that the Certified Integrity Officers (CeIO) programme also helped to address leakages and power abuse.

He said CeIO were placed in most of the government agencies and government-linked companies where meetings were held periodically to discuss matters and issues related to corruption. They also exchange ideas to find solutions.

“Most of the agencies have their own integrity unit to overlook their operations,” said Shamsun Baharin.

“This will ensure the management will be more serious in tackling corruption issues in their agencies and will be held accountable if any corruption activity emerges,” he said.