Find reasons behind civil servants' reluctance to report bribes, MACC told

Despite cash incentives for civil servants to report instances of bribery and corruption, they still seem to be reluctant to do so.

News reports in May found that only 162 civil servants - less than one percent of some 1.6 million members of the civil service - have been awarded the incentives.

Former top civil servants and the head of an anti-corruption NGO Malaysiakinispoke to are of the opinion that the MACC, therefore, must look into the reasons behind this.

All three suggested that MACC's apparent lack of credibility may be a major reason behind the reluctance.

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel said the incentive will not be successful without the proper and sustained protection of whistleblowers.

"Furthermore, public trust in the MACC needs to be improved before they can expect people to confidently come forward.

"Right now MACC suffers from credibility deficit due to lack of independence," she said.

Lofty idea

Admitting that the scheme is indeed lofty in nature, Cynthia, however, said that it can only be effective if reforms to make the MACC more independent takes place first.

"Right now it's still ignoring big elephants in the room," she said, citing the 1MDB and Scorpene scandals, among others.

Another possible reason behind the reluctance may be due to the culture of fear as well as real threats of retaliation, she added.

"Career, job cuts (and) personal security threats. All these add up to the prevailing silence."

On the other hand, former transport ministry secretary-general Ramon Navaratnam is of the opinion that giving incentives to civil servants to report bribes is, indeed, a good idea.

"It's a human tendency not to put your friend in trouble, we need to give more attractive incentives for them to report their friends."

However, Ramon said the issue of confidentiality must be prioritised as civil servants would be discouraged from reporting corruption if their identities are not kept secret.

"So they (the MACC) must consult the civil service then the MACC will understand better what will persuade the staff to cooperate more enthusiastically," he said.

Asked whether MACC's credibility deficit could be one of the reasons behind the reluctance, Ramon admitted it could be one of the major reasons.

"That's why MACC should conduct a study to find out," said Ramon who is also director of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli).

Like Cynthia and Ramon, former secretary-general of Treasury Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim is also of the opinion that MACC's apparent lack of credibility could be a reason behind the reluctance.

But Sheriff suggested that instead of the MACC conducting a research to determine the reasons behind the occurrence, the commission should engage an independent researcher.

Engage independent researcher

"Maybe they should engage an independent researcher, those who have this kind of experience in other countries.

"Usually there are common factors which can explain this kind of behaviour, it's good to get an independent research," he said.

Sheriff also stressed the importance of protection for informants and whistleblowers.

"Maybe they are afraid of backlash for reporting on others."

The G25 member cited his time as a civil servant, in which the then anti-corruption agency used to find cases of corruption and took action.

"But of course those days life was simpler; incidents of corruption were much lower than it is now.

(But) I don't remember any incentives, no. And I don't remember civil servants being asked to report on suspected corruption in their department," he said.

The ringgit-to-ringgit incentive was introduced in 2011 to reduce corruption among civil servants.

Sabah MACC director Sazali Salbi on Saturday said that civil servants who report corruption cases to the MACC will receive a reward in the form of cash incentives with the same value of the bribe involved.

However, Sazali said the incentive would be given on the condition that the case is investigated and the accused are charged and convicted. - Mkini