The government will be introducing amendments to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act to make companies responsible for employees engaging in bribery.

In a statement today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low said that the corporate liability law is aimed to be tabled by the first half of this year.

“We hope that such an amendment to the MACC Act - depending on discussions with the attorney-general and the cabinet - will be tabled in Parliament this year, preferably in March or June," he said.

He added that when the law passes, there will be a grace period for companies to comply with the introduced provisions.

Low said he hoped the new provisions will encourage companies to look into their own corporate systems and prohibit bribes.

“We will award those who have anti-corruption policies, while those who are involved in corruption will be punished.

“How much the sanction is, I cannot say, because it is up to the attorney-general to formulate and specify (the penalties),” he noted.

He urged companies to put in place adequate preventive systems, training, education, and instructions to curb bribery.