PETALING JAYA: While not denying there are cases of corruption involving public officers, the civil servants’ union body believes the situation has not become out of hand yet.

However, a corruption watchdog said the high percentage of civil servants involved reflects an entrenched culture of corruption that requires more than just punitive measures.

Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said despite this, civil servants must be constantly reminded and advised of the menace and the repercussions of being involved in corrupt activities,

“There is corruption, we don’t deny it. But the number of corruption incidences can still be controlled,” he said.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said that corruption among civil servants remains a serious concern, citing that over 40% of arrests so far this year involved public officers.

Abdul Rahman pointed out that bribes are more often than not given to civil servants rather than asked for by them.

“There are projects where contractors have used their influence towards public officers and have given them bribes,” he claimed.

He also called on authorities to continue to take action against corruption.

Malaysian Corruption Watch president Jais Abdul Karim said corruption among public officials has a multiplier effect.

“It discourages foreign investment, fosters a culture of impunity, and directly impacts the quality of public services like healthcare, education and law enforcement.“This alarming statistic is a wake-up call for all Malaysians. We must collectively demand higher standards of integrity from civil servants and public institutions,” he said.

The country, he adds, still struggles with structural weaknesses in public administration, insufficient whistleblower protections and limited implementation of anti-corruption policies.

Jais urged the government to adopt a holistic system with clear reporting channels, regular performance audits and collaboration with NGOs to enhance transparency in the civil service.

Ensuring better transparency, he suggested that there should be more robust internal audits and monitoring within public institutions.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/10/group-pushes-for-integrity-overhaul-in-civil-service