PUTRAJAYA: It is not wrong for public servants to play golf, but when the game is played abroad with contractors and suppliers, questions of ethics arise.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said this during a one-hour interview with @MACCfm today.
"There is nothing wrong (with playing) golf. I play golf too, and it is a game played by the public.
"(But playing golf abroad with contractors and suppliers) is an indicator that the public servant (may be engaging in abuse of) power.
"It is fine to go play golf abroad alone, but the whole office? This thing happens not only at federal level, but at state levels as well," said Azam.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad had earlier called on civil servants, especially those in top management positions, to stop playing golf overseas.
He advised civil servants to stop such activities, and that there is no need to go overseas to play golf, especially in Indonesia and Thailand.
"They are not professional golfers, and there is no need for them to go overseas simply to play golf," said Dzulkifli recently.
Azam also said from this year on, MACC’s investigation and intelligence gathering will focus on the public sector, government-linked companies and banks.
"The public sector, the procurement sector and the enforcement agencies will be given special focus by us because the tendency for corruption (in these sectors) is quite high," he said.