ROAD TRANSPORT DEPT SIGN MOU TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Road Transport Department (JPJ) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in efforts to stamp out corruption and enhance integrity among its staff members.

Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said the MACC would assist JPJ in carrying
out background checks on officers who were qualified for promotion as part of
the measures to rid the agency of corruption.

"This memorandum shows that the JPJ is serious in weeding out corruption,"
he told reporters here Monday after launching JPJ's integrity plan which spells
out strategies and programmes to enhance integrity among the staff, weed out
corruption and abuse of power.

So far, two JPJ officers in Perlis and Melaka had been taken action by the
JPJ's integrity special task force and their cases had been referred to the
MACC for prosecution.

Ong also said that two integrity units would be set up in JPJ offices
nationwide to inculcate the culture of integrity and to monitor complaints
against the department.

The units are the Puspakom monitoring committee and JPJ stakeholders
committee which act as a platform for members of the public to voice out
complaints and suggestions on how to improve the services offered by both
agencies.

The department would also expand the use of e-service which Ong said would
reduce the opportunities for corruption.

Earlier in his speech, Ong called on the JPJ to overcome the people's
negative perception towards the agency, including allegations of
non-responsiveness, unfriendliness and corruption.

"I myself have been receiving complaints, genuine complaints, from
stakeholders in their dealings with the JPJ. There are some truths to their
complaints.

"This may be a bitter pill to swallow but this is a fact which the JPJ needs
to deal with," he said.
-- BERNAMA