ASP Ahmad Abang of Royal Malaysia Police (holding scroll) leading civil servants to recite the Integrity Pledge at the BCCK during the Civil Service Day 2014 celebration.
KUCHING: Sarawakians can help fight corruption by tipping off and gathering evidence for enforcement agencies, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“If we see, know or suspect any form of corruption happening in the state, it is both our personal and professional responsibilities to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
“But if you complain to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), try to get the evidence and do not just say ‘I think it is happening’. Evidence is required in the proceedings of court. It is also unfair if you complain without solid evidence.
“The trouble with our people is that they don’t want to get involved. They don’t want to be subpoenaed by the court to be witness. It is a bad thing when we pretend not to know. We must get rid of that as it is our responsibility to detect corruption and make sure it is not repeated,” he said during the Civil Service Day 2014 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.
Adenan urged civil servants to join him in fighting corruption, which cost the government millions of ringgit in losses every year, money that could have been better spent on delivering services to the people.
He warned that corruption would greatly harm the state’s economy, cause investors to lose trust and eventually affect the state’s investment prospects and economic wellbeing.
“Corruption is like cancer – it will affect the body slowly and staggeringly. And it will paint a bad reputation on the civil service. To gain the people’s trust, we must uphold integrity at the highest level by adopting zero tolerance towards any form of corruption.”
Quoting German-born theoretical physicist and philosopher of science Albert Einstein, he said: “The world will not be destroyed by people who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
He added: “The world is a bad place not only because the small number of bad people are active but the big number of good people do nothing. So the majority must speak up.”
On a relevant note, Adenan hoped that enforcement authorities such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) could operate beyond office hours to check overloading.
He observed that overloaded timber trucks would gradually damage the road and still, their drivers knew the best time to dodge enforcement.
“When you have timber trucks using our road, the lifespan of the road will not be very long. And cases of overloaded timber trucks, be it night or day, are quite rampant.
“I hope the enforcement authorities on this one would not work only during office hours. Do not say that it’s already 5.30pm and my job is done. Those people know how you operate and we cannot have that sort of practice.”
Adenan asserted providing service with honour would only happen if civil servants could gain the complete trust of the people.
He said many complaints were lodged against the civil service when he first started out in the government about three decades ago.
“They said the clerk was rude and there were long waits. But over the years, it has shown improvement.”