Dr Mahathir: National Anti-Corruption Plan a warning, guide for all
The newly-launched National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) serves as a warning to all – including the prime minister and Cabinet ministers – to steer clear of graft. (Bernama photo)
By NST - January 29, 2019 @ 12:29pm
PUTRAJAYA: The newly-launched National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) serves as a warning to all – including the prime minister and Cabinet ministers – to steer clear of graft.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the fight against corruption, as symbolised by the introduction of the NACP, will involve not only bringing offenders to justice, but ensuring past mistakes are not repeated.
“The plan is a warning to all, including myself, the ministers and others,” said Dr Mahathir after the NACP’s launch here, today.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar.
Dr Mahathir vowed that strict actions would be taken against those involved in graft in the country, which includes the practice of civil servants being paid to provide special treatment to certain individuals, or looking the other way when wrongdoings are committed.
The prime minister listed the sectors which are prone to corruption – public procurement, law enforcement, political governance, corporate governance, public sector administration and the legal as well as judicial spheres.
He said if corruption in these sectors is not immediately addressed, the situation will deteriorate further.
The prime minister said that the execution of the 115 initiatives in the NACP, which aim to rid Malaysia of corruption, will need the involvement of all – from himself to kindergarten teachers.
“(You) cannot expect me alone to do it, or only the National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC).
“And, it is also not the responsibility of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or certain agencies, to shoulder the responsibility of (ensuring corruption-free) governance and integrity.
“It is the responsibility of all quarters… to inculcate good values and to (instil) hatred towards corruption among our children.
“It will be more meaningful when (leaders such as myself) and those (in positions of authority) can achieve integrity and trustworthiness, (and an environment free of) corruption and abuse of power,” said Dr Mahathir.
He said the first move that Pakatan Harapan (PH) made when it formed the federal government was to implement mandatory asset declaration among Cabinet members.
“We won the last general election because of our cause to uphold governance and integrity.
“We don’t have other options but to give priority to governance and integrity. This is why the people have chosen the PH government,” he said.
Prime Minister’s Directive
The NACP, he added, will also introduce a Prime Minister’s Directive governing the demarcation of power between ministers and secretaries general.
“All of these are efforts to separate the government administration from the influence of politics.
“This is important to prevent any form of power abuse from happening,” said Dr Mahathir.
The prime minister also urged all in the public sector to not only execute the plan, but to ensure that the set objectives could be met.
“All quarters have a share in ensuring that the 115 initiatives become a reality.
“Civil society must also play its part by becoming the eyes and ears of the government.
“Please monitor and give feedback. Otherwise, what we hope for will not be realised,” he said, adding that the media must perform its role of imparting information that would help the people understand the aims of the NACP.
The NACP also reveals that RM1.8 trillion was lost by the government through illicit financial flows between 2005 and 2014.
Earlier, Ismail Bakar said 40 per cent of the offenders arrested by graft busters between 2011 and 2015 were civil servants.
In this respect, he said, the NACP will be the guiding document for civil servants, and will go a long way towards helping rehabilitate the rakyat’s negative perception towards those in the public sector.
Reported by Azura Abas, Nuradzimmah Daim, Hashini Kavishtri Kannan, Irwan Shafrizan Ismail and Mohd Husni Mohd Noor
