THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act of 2009 states that any person who is given, promised or offered any bribe to violate the provisions of the act shall report such gift, promise or offer.
It therefore follows that anybody who knows of such a crime must also report it to the authorities.
Similar provisions can be found in the Penal Code and in the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations of 1993.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that any government department head who knows of corrupt practices among his staff but fails to report them should not be promoted.
Such officers can sometimes also be complicit and therefore should also be prosecuted.
It is a legal duty of such officers to lead by example.
Beyond legal obligations, there is also an ethical imperative for heads of departments to uphold the integrity of their office.
Allowing corrupt practices to go unreported not only tarnishes the reputation of the department but also undermines public trust in the government.
In cases where there is suspicion or indirect evidence of corruption, it is the duty of the head of department to ensure these suspicions are formally and fully investigated.
Corruption undermines good governance principles by distorting the decision-making processes, promoting inefficiencies and eroding public trust in government institutions.
Corruption can hinder the effective delivery of public services by diverting resources away from essential programmes and projects, leading to substandard services to the innocent public.
It is noteworthy that the Congress of Unions in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) supports the prime minister's stand on corruption.
But, of course, eliminating corruption that has been embedded for a long time is no easy task.
But a start must be made. And this is as good a time as any to do so.
This can be done by increasing transparency in government operations, ensuring public access to information and promoting accountability in the decision-making processes.
Public officials should be made accountable for their actions through effective mechanisms such as performance evaluations, and regular asset declarations.
And whistleblowers must be assured of full protection under the law.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
CHAIRMAN
ALLIANCE FOR A SAFE COMMUNITY