KOTA KINABALU: Nine hundred and nine government departments, statutory bodies, private corporation and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia have signed the Corporate Integrity Pledge (CIP) of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to date, including 22 in Sabah.
MACC Sabah director, Datuk Shaharom Nizam bin Abdul Manap, said the signing of the CIP, introduced since June 2011, was voluntary and should be undertaken by all Malaysian companies to eradicate corruption.
He said, corrupt practices could weaken good governance, leak resource allocation and bring misery to the people.
“Controlling (corruption) can only be done with the cooperation from all quarters, including the government, NGOs, statutory bodies, private companies, government-linked companies (GLC), multinational corporation (MNC) and the community. Hence, the CIP was introduced because anti-corruption effort should not stop at the public service level, but should also be expanded to the private sector.
“This is because the private sector support the main trade and economic activities of the country,” Shaharom said at the signing of the CIP by Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) and its three subsidiary companies, namely, Tuaran Crumb Sdn Bhd, Tenom Crumb Sdn Bhd and Beaufort Specialty Rubber Sdn Bhd.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Yahya Hussin.
He said the battle against corruption needed high and continuous commitment from all quarters, including corporates.
“It is not a one-off event where the pledge is signed and declared. The pledge must be translated based on the five anti-corruption principles by companies in Malaysia,” he reiterated.
The five principles include promoting and encouraging integrity values, transparency, accountability, good corporate governance and strengthening internal systems that support anti-corruption elements.
Since June 2011, Shaharom said, 909 public and private agencies have signed the CIP, including LIGS, Tuaran Crumb Sdn Bhd, Tenom Crumb Sdn Bhd and Beaufort Specialty Rubber Sdn Bhd.
Apart from LIGS and its subsidiary companies, other Sabah companies that have signed the CIP are Ko-Nelayan, Sabah Forestry Development Board, Borneo Development Corporation (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, Saham Sabah Berhad, Progressive Insurance Berhad, Sawit Kinabalu Group, Sabah Economic Corporation (Sedco), Perbadanan Baitulmal Negeri Sabah, Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd, Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB), Sabah Credit Corporation, Wisma Harta Sdn Bhd, KKIP Sdn Bhd, Rural Development Corporation, Sabah Parks, Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Cocoa Board and Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia).