Malayasia On The Right Track In Fighting Corruption, Says M'sıan DPM

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Malaysia is on the right track in terms
of fighting corruption, malpractices and abuse of power following various
initiatives undertaken by the government, said Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin Tuesday.

In line with the commitment of the National Integrity Plan, he said the
government had even raised the status of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to
that of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and had established an
advisory board, a complaints committee and several panels to provide advice and
monitor the activities of MACC to ensure that there was transparency and
independence for it to carry out its anti-corruption duties.

In addition, an Integrity Pact had been introduced in the government's
procurement system as well as in e-perolehan to bring about transparency in the
award of government tenders and contracts.

Muhyiddin said the government had also established compliance units in
government agencies that may be at risk, created a database of those guilty of
corrupt practices and ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption.

"By strenthening enforcement institutions involved in combating corruption,
creating a legal mechanism to handle corrupt practices dan having a monitoring
mechanism in government agencies, we are confident that the scourge of
corruption and abuse of power in the country would be fought until the end," he
said in his speech at the close of the 2011 Integrity Speech Competition for the
Minister of Education's Shield held among teacher training institutes at the
National Integrity Institutte here.

He said the government had enacted the Anti-Corruption Act, Witness
Protection Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act and Mutual Assistance in Criminal
Matters Act and had made fighting graft one of the National Key Results Areas
(NKRAs).

The government had also introduced the National Integrity Plan to instill a
a culture of integrity in all walks of life besides strengthening integrity in
various sectors, said Muhyiddin.

"All this will surely improve the confidence of the people and international
community in terms our of country's efforts to be free from corrupt practices,"
he said.

As such, he said all the government's initiatives to eradicate corruption
and strengthen a culture of integrity in society needed support from all fronts,
including civil servants, business people, private sector employees and people
from all strata of society for without this support, the government's initiative
would not succeed.

"Having a culture of integrity is important in our efforts to become a
developed nation where our citizens would adhere to good moral values and
ethics. A culture of integrity is also a vital ingredient for establishing a
developed nation and a well-being society," he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the government wanted
to see its educators play a more important and effective role in inculcating a
culture of integrity through education.

"As educators, teachers can instill good moral and ethical values through
their teaching and consequently bring about a culture of integrity among
students, who will form the future generations of the nation," he said.

One effective way for teachers to build good morals through education was by
becoming good role models themselves with them displaying their trust,
dedication and commitment to their jobs, and this would be the best example to
students, Muhyiddin added.

He also proposed that programmes based on creating a culture of integrity in
the teaching profession such as the integrity speech competition be stepped up.