Graft among civil servants at critical level

ALOR SETAR: Corruption among civil servants in Malaysia is at a critical stage, said Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission ( MACC) deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil.

“Of the 2,329 cases investigated by the MACC between 2014 and 2016, 1,088 or 46% involved civil servants. We have to accept the fact that corruption among civil servants has reached a critical level,” Shamshun Baharin said.

Despite the ringgit-to-ringgit incentive offered to civil servants who report corrupt practices within the civil service, only 214 individuals reported such cases over the past six years, with the amount of incentives paid out totalling RM384,000, he said.

The ringgit-to-ringgit incentive was introduced by the Government in 2011 to curb corruption among civil servants.

“We call on all the heads of units and departments to monitor their officers and subordinates, and to report to us any corrupt practices,” he said.

Shamshun Baharin was speaking at a press conference after the signing of the corruption-free pledge between the state Religious and Islamic Affairs Department and MACC here yesterday.

He added that the low number of whistleblowers lodging reports against their superiors or subordinates could be due to the shortcomings in the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and the Witness Protection Act 2009.

“For example, if it’s a corruption case, the complainant or the informant can report to MACC, but cannot file reports at both the MACC and the police. This is one of the limitations we noticed,” he said.

Shamshun Baharin also said the younger generation made up the bulk of those involved in graft, with 54% of the 2,329 cases investigated involving those aged 40 and below.