TM-I to name and shame pledge violators online

The Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) has conceded that the integrity pledge signed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last week is not legally binding.

However, TI-M will hold the signatories, including Najib, responsible by publishing their wrongdoings on its website and social media such as Facebook and Twitter to put public pressure on violators of the pledge.

Its chairperson Paul Low (right) said by doing so, he hopes it would serve as an disincentive for politicians from violating the integrity pledge which they inked.

"The people will pick it up from our sources and they will know which candidate is insincere," he toldMalaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

He also suggested that the media could help disseminate the misconduct of the candidates.

The pledge that politicians made to TI-M, which would be examined for breaches during the coming general election, included:

• Truth, integrity, ethical conduct and accountability, including not accepting or giving bribes or being involved in corrupt practices in anyway;

• Upholding and giving priority to the interests of the rakyat as whole;

• Good governance and transparency; and

• Compliance with all the applicable laws and regulations of Malaysia.

The TI-M president was responding to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang's poser on whether the anti-corruption watchdog has any mechanism to receive and investigate public complaints of alleged breaches by signatories to the pledge.

Lim also ridiculed Najib, who signed the pledge on Feb 20, as the DAP leader claimed that the PM had already breached his integrity commitment at least five times during the Chinese New Year period.

Low said TI-M will not however lodge any reports of purported misconduct to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Election Commission (EC).

However, both authorities, he added, could obtain information from TI-M and take the necessary action against errant politicians.