KUALA LUMPUR: The government remains steadfast in its commitment in enhancing the national good governance agenda, improving integrity and combating corruption.
In a statement, the National Governance Committee (JKKTN), in which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission served as the secretariat, had implemented several significant reforms throughout last year to enhance national governance.
MACC said these efforts aligned with the aspirations of Malaysia Madani, with the ultimate goal of positioning Malaysia as an integrity-driven and corruption-free nation.
It said key initiatives included the drafting of the Government Procurement Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill, both of which had been approved to be presented at the cabinet meeting.
This also included the Federal Statutory Bodies Management and Governance Guidelines, which were implemented on April 30 to bolster accountability and transparency within the public sector.
"Efforts to combat abuse of power and fund misappropriation were strengthened through amendments to the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952 and the Trustees Act 1949.
"These amendments, presented at the JKKTN meeting on Sept 9, were approved by Parliament on Dec 11 to enhance the governance of trustee bodies," it said.
It added that the formation of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Special Task Force, chaired by the chief secretary to the government on May 8, also underscored the country's commitment to improving the CPI.
It said this initiative, involving all ministries, departments and agencies, aimed to improve the perception of good governance and national integrity.
MACC said five out of the 60 sub-strategies of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 have been successfully implemented since its launch on May 7.
"Under the Education Strategy, the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course Module (KIAR) was introduced as a mandatory course for all students in higher education institutions (IPTs).
"This module aims to raise awareness among students about corruption and its detrimental impact on society and the nation.
"Additionally, the Character Ambassador Kit, launched by the Education Ministry on Nov 25, aims to instill the value of 'karamah insaniah' among students.
"In line with the National Education Philosophy, themed weeks on ethics, moral values, and anti-corruption have been incorporated into the school academic calendar to educate students from an early age," it said.
It said efforts to strengthen the integrity of public servants have been prioritised with the introduction of the Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption Strengthening Module (MPGIA), which aims to cultivate a culture of good governance.
Under the Public Accountability Strategy, it said, the government has made significant strides in addressing issues raised through the Auditor General's Dashboard.
"The role of the Internal Audit Unit (UAD) in federal and state ministries and departments has been reinforced with the introduction of the 'Guidelines on the Roles and Responsibilities of National Audit Department Officers Assigned to UAD in Ministries, Departments or State Secretary Offices', which came into effect on July 1.
"This proactive approach aims to prevent mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds, ensuring that government expenditure is optimised for the benefit of the people," it said.
As part of the enforcement strategy, it said, the Border Control and Protection Agency Act was gazetted on Oct 17 to strengthen enforcement mechanisms by promoting a coordinated approach to border control, enhancing Malaysia's national security and safeguarding its interests.