This post is brought to you by NKRA Against Corruption.
Building on the success of the first phase (2010-2012) of the Government Transformation Programme, the next three years (2013-2015) will see the NKRA against Corruption enhancing the process of positive change in Malaysia.
Corruption in Malaysia is being tackled on all fronts, but the fight is far from over. Corruption persists because it has been normalised and accepted as the way things get done. It’s become ingrained in the culture, so a successful fight against corruption requires a wholesale change in the mindset of the people. Such a social transformation takes time, and in the plan for GTP 2.0, the NKRA Against Corruption has taken steps to raise awareness about corruption, especially in students and younger Malaysians. As the next generation of business leaders, it’s imperative that the culture of acceptance of corruption be changed.
In tandem with broader educational and cultural goals to fight the mindset of corruption, GTP 2.0 allows for more concrete actions, too, such as stronger enforcement of anticorruption laws, faster processing of corruption cases in special courts throughout the country, and transparency and accountability safeguards in the government’s procurement process. These three workstreams, namely Enforcement Agency, Grand Corruption, and Government Procurement, comprise 17 initiatives specifically designed to make a real difference in changing the culture.
Under the Enforcement workstream, new GTP 2.0 initiatives include the creation of a Project Management Office on Prevention and the Corporate Integrity System Malaysia (CISM).
For the Grand Corruption workstream, the stated goal of complete prosecution of corruption cases within a year has been solidified, raising public awareness of the penalties and punishment for officials caught engaging in corrupt practices. Guidelines for political financing is a key new initiative for GTP 2.0 and the implementation of this governing framework began in 2012.
In the workstream for Government Procurement, stronger initiatives to ensure compliance and transparency have been put into place, such as an Action Committee on the Auditor General’s report, the formation of the Putrajaya Inquisition, and perhaps most importantly, the establishment of strict guidelines for middlemen and lobbyists in the procurement process.
A critical component in fighting corruption is the consistent and strong application of anti-corruption measures. The NKRA Against Corruption team believes that the foundation laid in GTP 1.0 has established a framework for such consistency. Through the continued efforts in GTP 2.0 to change the culture, establish legislation, and expedite corruption cases, the people of Malaysia – as well as the international community – can expect to see greater impact from the new initiatives over the next three years as GTP 2.0 takes effect.
Source: The Expat November 2013
Read more:
- The First Steps to Corruption-Free Procurement
- Meet NKRA’S New Champion for Integrity
- NKRA: Business Done Better with Ethic
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