EAIC SEEKS NGO PARTNERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN INTEGRITY OVERSIGHT

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) will continue working closely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to identify more effective measures to address maladministration and misconduct, including reviewing several aspects of the EAIC Act 2009 (Act 700).

The collaboration aims to strengthen oversight and investigations, with the aim of boosting public confidence in transparent, credible and trustworthy public institutions.

EAIC chairman Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar said integrity issues cannot be addressed through enforcement alone, but require preventive measures, system improvements and comprehensive institutional reforms.

“NGO input on maladministration and misconduct in the public service, particularly involving enforcement agencies, helps EAIC identify more effective and realistic measures, including efforts to improve Malaysia’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI),” he said in a statement today.

Earlier, Ismail chaired a dialogue on the topic of Governance and Integrity in Putrajaya. It was attended by representatives from various NGOs, including the Malaysian Institute of Integrity and Governance, Malaysia Corruption Watch, Rasuah Busters, the Malaysian Coastal Fishermen’s Network Education and Welfare Association, and Transparency International Malaysia.

During the dialogue, most of the NGO representatives were of the opinion that the EAIC should continue to be strengthened as the final bastion of public trust in ensuring accountability and integrity within enforcement agencies.

They also proposed strengthening government-society engagement through an Open Government Relationship approach, including recognising qualified NGOs as strategic partners in the government’s integrity and governance reform agenda.

The NGOs further highlighted challenges in implementing integrity initiatives, including political pressure and agendas that could undermine investigations and enforcement actions, as well as weaknesses in the whistleblower protection system.

“Political interference and constraints on institutional independence are also seen as weakening enforcement effectiveness in upholding integrity. NGO voices will continue to be an important reference for EAIC in supporting transparent and integrity-driven enforcement reforms.

“NGOs are key information providers in conveying real issues on the ground, public challenges and experiences that may not be reflected in official data, including misconduct and integrity leakages among enforcement officers,” Ismail added.

-- BERNAMA