KUALA LUMPUR: Psychometric tests for honesty and integrity should be considered for employment in the public sector, said Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff, president and CEO of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (INTEGRITI).
Psychometric assessment is the science of measuring psychological characteristics such as knowledge, skills, aptitudes and personality traits through various forms of testing.
Dr Anis said INTEGRITI had very recently assisted the Kedah state secretariat (SUK) in administering such tests, using technology developed by MIMOS (Malaysia's national R&D centre in ICT), to determine specific aspects of a candidate's character that are of particular importance for high risk posts.
“A total of 22 candidates applying for Gred 27 and Gred 41 positions were asked to take an integrity test which can predict, for example, their tendency to be corrupt while on the job.
"Results of the psychometric testing, administered by psychologists trained in the United States, will take about two to four weeks to be out.
“The results will be given to the SUK to be used as an entry point in the hiring process," he told reporters today after hosting a Breakfast Talk entitled 'Social and Print Media: Responsibilities in Reporting From An Integrity Perspective’ here today.
The talk was delivered by Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar who is former Media Prima Berhad chairman, with NST probes editor Farrah Naz Karim and blogger Salahuddin Hisham as panelists.
Dr Anis said INTEGRITI would make recommendations to the SUK based on the results but it is up to them to decide on whether to err on the side of caution and reject if there is any doubt about a candidate's integrity.
At the same time, he said INTEGRITI is finalising its 'Enforcement Agency Integrity Module' for implementation in agencies under the purview of Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
The module focuses on five main topics concerning enforcement agencies: public image, financial management, correcting the norms, embracing work with faith and institutionalising integrity.
“We are also studying the failure of enforcement agencies to adhere to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as many public complaints involved the breach of SOP,” he said.