Graft-busting agency urges MBs and CMs to set up integrity units in their offices
KUCHING: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) wants chief ministers and menteri besar to follow Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s lead and set up an integrity unit in their offices. The move is seen as an effort to check corruption or irregularities. MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya noted that only Sarawak has set up the State Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (Union).
“I hope all the states will emulate Sarawak in avoiding any criticism (against the highest state government administration) and initiate the process of administrative transparency,” Bernama quoted her after a dialogue with government-linked companies and the hotel industry in Terengganu yesterday. She said there is a need for the integrity unit because “the potential for corruption is greater at the state level than the
federal level as the states have more access to various resources such as logging and land-related matters.” Latheefa said a senior MACC officer in the Integrity Unit of the Office of the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister will ensure transparency in governance.
Besides the integrity unit, the declaration of assets by the state assemblymen and transparency in the procurement process would also help state governments in establishing an administration free of corruption and abuse of power.
On elected representatives declaring their assets, she said Perak is the first state that has required all assemblymen to declare their assets. “I hope all the other states will also follow this example, regardless of whether they are administered by the ruling coalition or the opposition,” she was quoted by Bernama.
