‘Number of integrity cases involving JPJ staff minimal’

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Wan Uzir (seated) signing the visitors’ book at the JPJ Sarawak headquarters. Also seen are Mohd Shafiq (left) and Zulhairy.

KUCHING: The number of integrity cases against Road Transport Department (JPJ) staff is small compared to the number of staff the department has.

In revealing that there were 64 such cases brought against JPJ staff thus far this year in the whole country, JPJ Deputy Director-General (Management) Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman regarded the number of cases as minimal compared to the total number of JPJ staff of 8,000.

“Though the number is minimal, we cannot be careless (leka). We need to always remind them,” he said at a press conference after making the Integrity Pledge at JPJ Sarawak headquarters at Mile 13 yesterday.

Asked about action against the offenders, he said it depended on the severity of the cases, some might be suspended, demoted and even fired.

For the state, he said 12 cases had been recorded so far this year, including two drug cases.

For the drug cases, he said the offenders were given the chance to get clean before they were fired.

JPJ Sarawak has a total staff strength of 567 in 11 branches.

Earlier, Wan Uzir said the Integrity Pledge is in line with the government’s wish to strengthen integrity among the department’s staff.

The department’s Integrity Section was formed in 2013 while the Corruption Risk Management tool was established in 2016 as a management control system against corruption.

The department’s strategic 2016-2020 plan sets a transformation of its staff towards strengthening the department’s service delivery which is transparent and with integrity.

The department is also moving towards technology to create more online transactions to make it more transparent and reduce the risk of corruption.

It was selected as one of the pioneering agencies to implement ISO 37001:2016- Anti-Bribery Management System. The system is an international standard created to help the organisation implement an anti-bribery management system using prevention, detection and managing steps.

The pledge signed by state deputy director Zulhairy Zaidel, JPJ state director Mohd Shafiq Anas Abdullah and all JPJ Sarawak branch chiefs was witnessed by Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) .

“At the same time, those interacting with JPJ especially the public are welcome to report any wrongdoings or abuse of power by any JPJ officer to the department. With the close cooperation with the MACC, the informants are protected under the Whistle Blower Protection Act 2010. Through this act, the informant’s identity is protected in terms of personal information, threats and civil action against them.”