Corruption cases involving Sabah civil servants dropped by 87 per cent

 By Olivia Miwil - December 9, 2021 @ 11:01am

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor delivers his speech during the state-level International Anti-Corruption Day at Menara Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah saw an 87 per cent drop of corruption cases involving state civil servants over the past four years.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the significant drop was an indication of rising awareness among state civil service personnel and a sense of responsibility to fight corruption together.

It was also due to concerted efforts by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the state government to weed out corruption.

MACC statistics had shown that 47 investigation papers were opened in 2018, dropping to 11 in 2019, nine in 2020 and up to August this year, there were only six cases investigated.

According to him, among the steps taken by the state government to ensure a high level of integrity in the public service was the mandatory implementation of the Organisation Anti-Corruption Plan (OACP).

"I call upon all state ministries to give their full commitment in creating and implementing the OACP," he said, adding that nine of the 11 state ministries have already put in place their respective plans.

Hajiji was speaking in conjunction with the state-level International Anti-Corruption Day at Menara Kinabalu, near here.

Present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joachim Gunsalam, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Safar Untong, Federal State Secretary Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed, State Public Service Department Director-General Datuk Rosmadi Sulai and Sabah MACC Director Datuk Karunanithy Subbiah.

Apart from further boosting governance and integrity, the OACP has also helped to enhance the people's confidence in the state government's delivery system.

"I believe state government departments and agencies under the leadership of the state secretary are giving the highest commitment in the effort to perpetuate integrity in the state civil personnel and to make the public realise that giving bribe is a serious offence," he said.

Hajiji urged for support and cooperation from the public by providing information on any wrongdoings such as abuse of power and bribery in their areas to the MACC.

"Those providing vital information to the MACC would be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010," he said.