PM says no promotions for civil service bosses if they fail to report graft

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned department heads in the civil service that they will be denied promotions if corruption and misconduct are uncovered within their departments or units and they fail to report it.

In a stern speech, Anwar said he plans to direct the Public Service Department to implement the new measure holding department heads and unit chiefs accountable for graft happening under their watch.

“I will recommend to the Public Service Department, in a meeting within the next day or two, that in our administration, a department or unit head will not be promoted if it is known that the system under them is rotten, it is not reported and allowed to continue,” Anwar said in his speech during his monthly Prime Minister’s Department staff monthly meeting in Putrajaya today.

The prime minister stressed that the responsibility to combat corruption does not solely lie with enforcement bodies, emphasising that civil service leaders themselves must take responsibility to root out wrongdoing within their ranks.

“Now this responsibility is not just on the MACC alone, but also on the department heads and unit heads. Because in my view, it’s impossible not to know, impossible,” he said.

Anwar further questioned how rampant corruption could persist for years within the civil service without top officials being aware of it.

“Sometimes I think this practice has been going on for years - it’s impossible not to know,” he added.

Anwar further urged civil servants that heeding this call would not only improve the civil service’s image but also prevent the country from suffering from the consequences of corruption.

More must be done

The prime minister acknowledged the anti-graft efforts of enforcement agencies but said more needs to be done at all government levels.

“Why do I emphasise this? Because it is still happening at certain levels. And what is the action? I think the enforcement bodies have almost maximised their efforts.

“I have informed the MACC commissioner that I will increase the additional allocation, and the attorney-general has been told to take action as soon as there is evidence, regardless of who so that in the near future we can effectively control this,” he said.

Anwar is determined to prioritise anti-graft efforts as a key agenda for his government.

He has already commended recent actions by enforcement agencies like the MACC, Inland Revenue Board and the Attorney-General’s Chambers against corruption.

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