More than 300 Malaysians inked their personal and professional pledges towards a corruption-free society at a national integrity congress at a hotel in Petaling Jaya today.

The 'anti-corruption pledge' symbolised the participants' undertaking never to be a giver of bribes with the aim of ridding the system of any takers.

Several top names in the country's corporate and government sectors, civil society bodies, religious groups and rights advocates spent the day deliberating on the spiritual and moral aspects of corruption.

By signing the anti-corruption pledge, an individual commits to refrain from practicing, collaborating and condoning corruption.

The person also pledges to take the necessary action to discourage corrupt practices in "my family, my organisation and my community".

"If I should act in a corrupt manner, I will confess my wrongdoing and will make myself accountable to the authorities of my faith and my country," read the pledge, which also requires a witness to sign as part of the grassroots monitoring process.

The meeting carrying the theme Corruption - The Weakest Link comprised plenary sessions, discussions and practical workshops.

Overall moderator Dr KJ John said the pledge will be handed over to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Maximus Ongkili for tabling at a cabinet meeting sometime later.

"This would be the first ever citizen's cabinet paper on their pledge against corruption," he said in his opening remarks.

Missing the point

However, his glowing tribute to ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad later describing him as a "statesman of integrity" drew a sharp rebuke from Transparency International president Param Cumaraswamy (photo)during the panel discussion and rebuttal.

Param said Mahathir was responsible for removing the checks and balances soon after he assumed the top post in 1981.

"I'm shocked with the claim. As I've said over the years, Mahathir started the systematic dismantling of checks and balances since 1985," he said when approached during coffee break.

"The (institutional) structures are there but the integrity of the those structures are gone."

He said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's anti-corruption campaign is missing the whole point by failing to tackle the root causes of corruption.

"We must have a freedom of information law and review/amend the Official Secrets Act. We also need to ensure that the judiciary and Anti-Corruption Agency are completely independent.

"Furthermore, they must be seen to be independent, for instance, in the appointment of the ACA chief who is currently chosen based on the prime minister's advice.

"But no one seems to be addressing the root of corruption," he said, adding that talks revolving around spiritual and social values alone are insufficient.

He said the citizens' pledge at the close of today's congress should strongly reflect this need.

"Civil society must tell the government that this is what we need."

He said after Ops Lalang in 1987, Malaysians had to deal with a culture of fear which caused people to become more materialistic.

"I have faith in people... if only they are given more space to express their needs and dissatisfaction. For this, the media must be free from political ownership."

Assurance given

During the panel discussion, Param said the government had given him an assurance that it will ratify the United Nations Convention on Corruption by early next year.

"I met with the Attorney-General last Tuesday and he gave me this assurance. This move would involve witness protection law and the transfer of convicted persons to other countries."

The convention is currently two short of 30 countries to become enforceable.

Tenaganita executive director Dr Irene Fernandez, also a panelist, stressed on the need for an integrated implementation of anti-corruption efforts.

Apart from criticising the church's failure to make a firm stand on corruption, she said the three earlier speakers had not addressed the gender dimension of corruption which involved sex.

"The use of sex in corruption has not been addressed. We need to look at the sex-corruption gap," she said.

She also raised the question of where to draw the line on the culture of presenting gifts.

"Where do we draw the line? There are gifts to officials' wives, change of furniture sets and even jewellery."

Pak Lah absent

Fernandez also questioned if Singapore should be rightly cited as a role model for anti-corruption efforts.

"Is it the independent individual or discipline of a police state that has addressed corruption there?

"Perhaps the citizens know that is the best way for survival on a small island... because their behaviour changes when they come to Malaysia," she said, drawing loud laughter from the floor.

Abdullah, who was supposed to deliver the keynote address could not make it due to "pressing commitments" but had conveyed his "utmost support and apologies for his absence".

Citizens' International director Dr Anwar Fazal delivered his keynote on 'Corruption and Its Impact on Nationhood' with a review of history of combating corruption followed by a 12-point action plan to eradicate it.