ALUMNI PTD CALLS FOR FIRM ACTION ON PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers' Alumni Association (Alumni PTD) has urged the government to adopt a firm and decisive approach in tackling corruption within the public sector.

Its president Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali said the absence of a strong deterrent has failed to instill fear among officers and staff, allowing corrupt practices to persist.

According to him, research suggested that enforcement would be more successful if penalties were heavy, with the probability of being caught is high, including the successful prosecution of such cases.

“Alumni PTD would like to suggest that we go back to basics and focus on several programmes and policies that are already in place to combat corruption,” he said in a statement today.

The association, he said, had suggested several key measures to address the lack of proper implementation, which include annual asset declarations.

“Officers and staff, especially those in services prone to corruption, must make their annual declaration and their senior officers must go through these declarations to check for their veracity and accuracy.

“Use of Artificial Intelligence and big data analysis will be helpful in this. Second, heads of enforcement departments and supervisors at different levels must ensure integrity among officers in the workplace,” he said.

Abdul Halim also emphasised that firm action must be taken against those who offer bribes, and more drastic measures should be applied to officers and staff involved in corruption.

“Alumni PTD supports the programme to transfer officers at regular intervals. However, action must be taken against those suspected of being involved in corruption before they are transferred,” he said.

He also suggested that demotion and the removal of any possibility of promotion for a long period should be imposed and the penalties for those convicted must be increased.

“Additional penalties, such as the confiscation of all assets belonging to those convicted of corruption, as well as the assets of their relatives if obtained through corrupt means, would surely discourage corruption,” he added.

-- BERNAMA