The Department of Public Service has amended the definition of value on gifts for its gift-giving and receiving guidelines with a circular already being prepared and sent to the Attorney General for review.
Its Director General, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said the amendment was made to strengthen the mechanism to monitor gifts received in public offices. He added efforts like this are always carried out by the Government and encouraged the public to share the commitment to fighting corruption in the country.
This follows from a spare of high profile corruption cases emerging lately involving civil servants using their status to commit activities that offer kickbacks. Recently Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission arrested an automotive agency under the Ministry of Internation Trade CEO for receiving RM8 million in kickbacks for an education facility. Another case involved an RM2.3 billion liked to a Government Linked Company with 8 people already detained including an executive from Petronas, the national oil company.
What starts as small gifts like boxes of chocolates or framed photos, could lead to a culture of giving gifts as a norm or even worse a ‘right’! This type of culture that has led to a bigger problem the nation is facing today.
