Corporate integrity pledge will boost transparency, integrity – Mohd Sidek

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PUTRAJAYA: Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has urged the private sector implementing public and private projects to sign the Corporate Integrity Pledge with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Witnessing the signing of the Corporate Integrity Pledge by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) with MACC, he said the pledge would uphold anti-corruption principles in its conduct of business.

“The government is very happy as the pledge will boost transparency and integrity.

“The government hopes this would serve as an example for other government projects and be emulated by private projects in the future,” he said at a press conference after the signing ceremony here Friday.

Earlier, MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid signed the Corporate Integrity Pledge. Also present was MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Kassim Mohamed. Mohd Sidek praised MRT Corp for being the first to sign the pledge that would contractually bind them to ensure they adhered by strict anti-corruption values when carrying out their work.

“The integrity documents signed today are extremely significant. For the first time, we have private sector companies signing a pact (to adhere to anti-corruption principles when carrying out their work). This will bode well for our quest for greater transparency and integrity,” he said.

In a statement, MACC said, upon the signing of the pledge, a company would be making a clear stand of how it operated, and this would be stated in writing as a form of guidance to the company in its business interactions.

The company will also use this pledge to set itself apart from its peers by demonstrating to its stakeholders that its business operations do not include any hidden risk or costs that are associated with corrupt activities.

The pledge consists of five Anti-Corruption Principles, such as a commitment to promote values of integrity, transparency and good governance.

In addition, the pledge also underlined the need to strengthen internal systems that support corruption prevention, as well as in ensuring the compliance to laws, policies and procedures relating to fighting corruption.

Other principles involve fighting any form of corrupt practices and support corruption prevention initiatives by the government and MACC.

The MRT Project owner also signed an Integrity Pact (IP) with its Project Delivery Partners (PDPs) MMC Gamuda KVMRT Sdn Bhd to make a firm commitment that both parties and their respective employees and agents shall not attempt to seek bribe or be involved in corrupt practices in the execution of the project.

MRT Corp and PDPs have agreed to introduce appropriate measures necessary from time to time to assist both parties in creating awareness among their employees and agents in efforts to comply with anti-bribery laws and legislation.

Among the measures include, introducing programmes to create awareness on the offences of corruption and bribery, as well as promoting this awareness in collaboration with MACC.

An independent monitoring system, which may be implemented through the Auditor-General will be established and procedures on the prevention of corrupt practices shall be put in place when the circumstances require. –Bernama