MACC: Removal of officers from govt agencies in line with new integrity dept

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has said the removal of its certified integrity officers (CIO), stationed at government agencies and ministries, was in line with the formation of the National Integrity and Good Governance Department (JITN).
The CIOs were stationed there to lookout for corrupt practices. Now, JITN officers will take over that role.
The commission today said with the JITN, which is managed by the administration and diplomatic service (PTD), the MACC has formed special surveillance units to monitor government agencies for corruption and power abuses at all risk levels.
"The forming of the JITN will not in any way impair the responsibilities of the MACC in ensuring government agencies are free of corruption and power abuse," the commission said.
It was reported yesterday in an English-language daily that 47 CIOs of the MACC, who were based at ministries and government agencies to ensure that they are corruption-free, had recently returned to the commission.
They were replaced with officers from within the government agencies who are only required to report discrepancies in governance or corrupt practices to their bosses.
The news report also pointed out that among the concerns of the change are:
- The issue of transparency of internal probes, as the integrity units (JITN) would report to the head of their agency;
- Whether or not the JITN officers were trained in "black ops" and results-oriented investigations;
- If cases taken up by JITN officers would go beyond disciplinary action;
- MACC will be locked out from its primary role of investigating corruption and abuse of power;
- PTD officers do not have the power to investigate; and,
- If MACC does penetrate the organisation to probe graft, it will not be able to carry out any follow-up remedial action to prevent such a culture, as it would, by law, be prevented to do so.
The daily also reported that the move was given the thumbs-down by anti-graft activists.
Former chairman of the MACC's independent panel — the Special Committee on Corruption, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang — said placing the CIOs in the agencies had proven effective and taking them out will disrupt battle against graft.
Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar said among the disadvantages of having Administration and Diplomatic Service (PTD) officers in the integrity unit was that dirt, if there was any, might not be cleaned up entirely.
"They will become like auditors, but they will be dealing with their own departments, and the good name of their agency will be put at risk," he added.