Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed speaks during a press conference at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya June 8, 2018. — Picture by Firdaus LatifMore
PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The government will be coming up with a new law allowing them to take punitive actions against public officers who blatantly cause financial leakages and waste government money.
Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed told a press conference that this was one of the agendas discussed at the first Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR) meeting.
“The government will draft a new law to take punitive measures against civil servants who deliberately cause financial leakage, mismanagement and financial wastage on government funds,” said Abu Kassim.
The former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief was accompanied by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Ser Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On another note, he also said that all Ministries must identify at least three issues or weaknesses involving the law, policies or regulations which leaves them and their respective agencies vulnerable to corruption.
Once identified, the ministries must submit it to GIACC one month from today.
Abu Kassim then announced that multiple agencies will now be parked and report under GIACC.
He added GIACC will be submitting a proposal to the government to restructure these agencies to ensure non-redundancy and enhance its efficiency.
“We have decided that the Malaysian Integrity Insitute, Public Complaints Bureau, Jabatan Integriti dan Tadbir Urus Negara (JITN) and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) will be placed under GIACC.
“GIACC has also been tasked to ensure the functions and structure of this new arrangement will not overlap while saving government costs expenditures. GIACC will be study and review the issue before they submit their proposal on these measures to the Public Service Department,” said Abu Kassim.
PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The Pakatan Harapan government has announced that the “no-gift” policy will be extended to include ministers and their support staff.
Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) head Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed told a press conference today the policy now only applies to the civil service and not elected representatives and their officers.
“In our meeting today we have decided on a no-gift and no-donation policy for members of the public administration and their political officers. This involves Cabinet members, deputy ministers and all the way down to their various political secretaries.
“Currently, this policy on focus on the civil service,” said Abu Kassim, who was accompanied by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
After Abu Kassim finished addressing the press, Dr Mahathir quipped that he may no longer receive any gifts and must follow the former’s instructions, drawing laughter.
He added the only gifts he is allowed to receive are flowers, food and fruits.
“If gifts are given out we will find both the recipient and the giver to be guilty,” said Dr Mahathir.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir, some members of his Cabinet and Abu Kassim attended the first Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption meeting.
Among issues raised during the meeting include instances of deviation from contract awards.
“We found an officer who held up to 68 positions in multiple companies. This is something that must be reduced. By necessity, it shouldn’t be more than five (positions). In fact, civil servants are discouraged to hold two to three roles like this. By right, they should only hold one post.
“However, there are times when this becomes unavoidable because some government officers must hold positions in government linked companies,” said Dr Mahathir.
Other items discussed in the meeting include asset declaration for ministers, deputy ministers and their respective political secretaries as well as the drafting of a new law on political funding.
