PORT KLANG: An amendment to include a corporate liability provision in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 is expected to be tabled at the next parliamentary session in March.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief Datuk Mustafar Ali said the provision would ensure corporations take responsibility for offences committed by its employees.
"Once the amendment is in effect, companies can be held responsible if their employees commit bribery, unless they can prove that they have taken measures to prevent it," he told reporters after the signing of a corporate integrity pledge between NCB Holdings Bhd and the MACC.
Currently, no companies can be held liable for graft or corruption, as only employees can be charged for bribery offences under the act.
Earlier, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed said the new law was aimed at combating institutional corruption, where graft and bribery were seen as standard business practice.
He cited a case involving a global corporation which had set aside funds to be used specifically for giving bribes.
"I have heard some companies say that they cannot get anything done without giving bribes here and there.
"This should not be the culture of doing business in Malaysia," he said.