To combat corruption, leakages and mismanagement of public funds, the Government is in the midst of building a new framework – an oversight body called the Governance and Integrity (G&I).
The G&I body is to form collaborations or joint ventures with each ministry and this might be mirrored at the State level as well, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low.
He said introducing the G&I was a big part of his plan to bring about sustainable change in terms of fighting for transparency, integrity, governance — the three items in his portfolio aside from human rights.
“Many people think fighting corruption is a ‘quick bang’, which means achieving success in a very short time. You can't do that. The main issue is, I want to ensure that there is no cosmetic changes,” Low told Astro AWANI recently.
He said although the public would naturally be sceptical of the G&I, he insisted that this new initiative would be able to “lay the building blocks” to place the necessary structures to fight corruption.
Astro AWANI understands that there is no specific timeline for this framework as it is being built for the long haul. Following the 2012 Auditor-General’s Report, several ministries have already begun to work with Low’s department in setting the foundation of the G&I.
“When I speak about the G&I body, people will automatically say, ‘here he goes again, another body, another committee’. But then, how do you institute changes if we don't bring a group of people to be the catalyst of change?” he said.
Low said the G&I entity would involve outside experts as well as ‘comprehensive engagement’ from each ministry, from top to bottom.
“We will look at the procurement process and its transparency.
“We will also look through the Auditor-General’s report and the root causes of the problems. We’ll figure out ways to implement changes and incorporate internal control systems and accountability,” he said.
He added that his department was also scrutinising the laws which needed to be changed, in the Government’s point of view, to boost transparency.
“We also need to look at how we interact with the private sector and if there’s a need to form certain partnerships. We’ll also look at reporting and how we measure some of the successes and failures.”
Low said each ministry acts like a big, multi-level corporation. To inject change, a there needs to be “champions within the ministry” – in the form of integrity officers.
“Some ministries have about 100,000 people, the size is quite big. How do you inject all-round good governance from top to bottom?
“We’re looking at placing integrity officers and bringing internal auditors to work with them. We also need to look at the communicate process and change the culture,” he said.
In terms of engaging with civil society, Low said some ministries might have the need to engage NGOs and interest groups, especially those which are serving them.
“For example, if you are in public works, you obviously have to engage all those in construction to form a coalition to bring them on board, so that they will be able to actively participate in helping you to eradicate corruption within the industry.”
When probed for more details, he said the current explanation is a simplistic overview of the plan.
“I’m talking about this in very simplistic terms. In reality, we have flowcharts and so many other things to depict the processes we are going to do.”
Teoh El Sen
Wed Oct 09 2013
![New oversight body to fight graft soon New oversight body to fight graft soon](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/71368629518_295x200.jpg)
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Women for zero corruption Women for zero corruption](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-06/61560746676_TBGRANDCANYONjpg.jpg)
Women for zero corruption
If Latheefa Koya's appointment as the new MACC chief goes unchallenged, Malaysia will see the first woman leading the war against corruption.
![[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos [OPINION] Opportunity from chaos](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-12/61512547365_shopping.jpg)
[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos
The biggest clandestine threat is the evaporation of the middle class across the developed world.
![PM, Kabinet, Ketua Institusi perlu isytihar harta - Akhbar Satar PM, Kabinet, Ketua Institusi perlu isytihar harta - Akhbar Satar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-05/51526888464_AkhbarSatar.jpg)
PM, Kabinet, Ketua Institusi perlu isytihar harta - Akhbar Satar
Datuk Akhbar Satar turut mencadangkan supaya proses tersebut turut dilakukan pasangan masing-masing dan ahli keluarga terdekat.
![China to alter law as it steps up fight against graft fugitives China to alter law as it steps up fight against graft fugitives](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/41524720416_chinaparlimen.jpg)
China to alter law as it steps up fight against graft fugitives
China plans to change its law to allow judgments to be delivered in corruption cases even when the suspects do not appear in court.
![Presiden FIFA: Pemilihan semula Sepp Blatter disambut sinis Presiden FIFA: Pemilihan semula Sepp Blatter disambut sinis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/71432947648_295x200.jpg)
Presiden FIFA: Pemilihan semula Sepp Blatter disambut sinis
Ikrar Blatter bebaskan FIFA dari kemelut rasuah antara yang jadi sindiran.