MIRI: Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said an anti-bribery management system should be introduced to local councils to achieve good governance.
He said the councils are part of the government machinery and with good standards, people will look up to the councils and “feel the trust, transparency and security”.
“We need to put anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability measures in place to counter all forms of leakages that can jeopardise our efforts.
“We must fight corruption in the same way that we fought against the COVID-19 pandemic to enable us to recover with integrity,” he said when officiating at the Miri City Council’s (MCC) Integrity Month celebration at the council’s new building here, today (Nov 11).
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, said the state government through the ministry is serious about having good governance, integrity and fighting corruption.
“As for now, each local council has one integrity officer. Recently, a pilot programme called Community Integrity Building (CIB) was developed by the Institute Integrity Malaysia, together with the State Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNION) of the Premier’s Department and my ministry has chosen a few councils such as Kuching North City Hall, Sibu Municipal Council, Limbang District Council and Matu-Daro District Council for this programme.
“This CIB programme is a social accountability approach that emphasises participatory development, community engagement, advocacy and social accountability to create a culture of high integrity and anti-corruption governance,” he said.
He proposed that the programme be extended to other local councils as well as to MCC.
“The ministry is really serious in looking at integrity not only at the council level but also in community development, hence, the programme today (Nov 11).
“ I am very happy to know that the local community is here and is involved in the events,” he said.
He also stressed that as Sarawak moved into the endemic phase of COVID-19, “recovery with integrity is the best at this time”.
“By emphasising environmental sustainability as stated in the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, it will pave the way for more investment inflow to Sarawak and that will co-create solutions, more green jobs and business opportunities to drive our economy in a sustainable manner.
“Hence, this can be achieved with close inter-agency cooperation and Sarawak together with its government agencies must assure high integrity in their governance, inculcating and nurturing the community with high integrity,” he said.
Practising good values and demonstrating integrity are important to maintain good governance, integrity and anti-bribery in the government service for a better service delivery.
“I was given to understand that the collection from assessment rates in MCC is above 80 percent and that the council has been achieved a clean certificate for its financial statement yearly.
“This means that Miri people must have trusted MCC in delivering its council’s services, timely implementation of all the projects to the people and good financial management,” said Dr Sim.
