Lack of enforcement to blame for rise in civil service graft, says ex-IGP

 

Musa Hassan says many government officials who have just started working are already spending well beyond their means.

PETALING JAYA: The relaxation in policies and lack of enforcement are among the factors that have made many civil servants fall prey to corruption, according to former inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan.

He said that these factors caused a deterioration in a person’s values, making them willing to compromise their integrity in order to enrich themselves.

“We see a lack of action against officers who deviate, and it gives rise to elements of corruption and the abuse of power.

“So it is important for all department heads to monitor the officers under them so that they perform their duties transparently,” he said during an anti-corruption forum organised by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

Musa said that during his long career in law enforcement, he saw the negative changes that took place when civil servants prioritised the pursuit of pleasure and material wealth over their service.

“When I started working, the salary was quite small, but we were trained to provide the best service to the community. But the situation has changed, and now many are chasing material things.

“What we see now is that many government officials who have just started working are already spending well beyond their means. This is one of the causes of corruption,” he said.

In a report last January, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that nearly half of all corruption cases in the past six years involved civil servants.

According to the MACC, between 2015 and 2020, a total of 5,652 arrests were made, of which 2,683 involved civil servants. - FMT