The problem with corruption is not about the lack of standard operating procedure but becauses the officers are short on integrity.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today admitted that cases involving corrupt government officers are due to the lack of integrity on the part of the civil servants.

 

Its deputy chief commissioner Mustafar Ali said this when commenting on the arrest of seven immigration officers in Lahad Datu, Sabah, for allegedly issuing Pakistani immigrants with long-term social visit passes via dubious means.

Most of the time, there was nothing wrong with the standard operating procedure, he told reporters after Putra World Trade Centre's management corporate integrity pledge today.

 

"For such cases, the SOP is already comprehensive and sound but the issue lies on the virtues ( nilai murni ) and integrity of the officers.

"Apart from strengthening the system, the integrity of officers must be strengthened as well.

 

"When there is a combination of both elements (strong system and integrity), such cases will be eliminated," Mustafar ( right ) said.

 

Utusan Malaysia had reported that the syndicate, where social visa passes were sold up to RM11,000 to Pakistanis in Sabah each, saw the arrest of seven immigration officers, including a deputy assistant director of the department. 

Mustafar had earlier said that the MACC will "revisit" the loopholes in the system which enabled such acts to occur.

 

"And we will also help the immigration department on how to prevent such cases from happening, from the early stage," he assured.

When asked whether an integrity officer was being placed in the immigration department in Sabah, Mustafar confirmed this.

 

"We have formed integrity units at the immigration department.

"But we need joint action with all officers to ensure that virtues are sowed and implemented continuously," he said.