Talib: Integrity a must to avoid project irregularities

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(Seated from left) Dr Penguang, Othman, Sherrina, Talib, Gerawat, Lee and Ahmad Lai with civil servants following the taking of the pledge yesterday.

MIRI: Civil servants involved in implementing government projects will be more vulnerable to corrupt practices if they do not have integrity.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip said integrity is important to prevent irregularities in government infrastructure projects.

“If a government project does not comply with standards of the contract, community leaders must come forward and report to the relevant agency or directly to me,” he said during the divisional and district-level Corruption-Free Pledge ceremony here yesterday.

He said there were some road projects being implemented for longhouses that did not meet specifications and standards.

“Do not be afraid to report corruption or abuse of power, because we want all the projects to be implemented properly and transparently. That is what the government is emphasising,” he said.

According to Talib, corrupt civil servants will cause millions of ringgit worth of projects to be abandoned due to misappropriation and abuse.

“We, the people, are the eyes and ears of the government. If there is any thing inappropriate about any of the government projects, we must point out the wrongdoing.

“It does not matter if they are a project manager or engineer; if the contract wants a piling job of 12 feet, then it should be done at 12 feet,” he stressed.

The minister explained that civil servants are required to carry out their duties with integrity and responsibility, citing the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem as a man of strong discipline who was strongly against corruption.

He added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg also prioritised integrity in the Cabinet and among civil servants in the state.

At the function yesterday, Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini led some 250 civil servants from various government departments and agencies in taking the corruption-free pledge in the presence of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Miri assistant director Othman Anyan.

“The pledge upholds employees’ accountability in avoiding any corrupt practices, malpractices and abuse of power during the discharge of duties.

“Corruption is not only against the law, but strictly prohibited in religion and will affect the image, perception and trust of society towards an organisation,” she said.

State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Dato Gerawat Gala, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Sibuti MP Datuk

Ahmad Lai Bujang and state Integrity and Ombudsman Unit director Adana Jed were among those present.