KUALA LUMPUR: Consistency, commitment and sustained political will are keys to determining the success of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028.
An anti-corruption watchdog said the authorities must also explain about the incentives given to people whenever they assist in the fight against corruption.
Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said public servants, especially top officials in ministries and government department heads are important players in fight against graft.
He said this role to combat graft, however, extends to all segments of society including the private sector.
He stressed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must continue to stand firm and sustain efforts by cabinet members in the fight against corruption.
"The launch of NACS 2024-2028 is another significant step at ensuring a promising trajectory for the nation's future.
"Compared to before, there is an assured level of authority with MACC (today), but I must highlight that we must maintain the determination for the plan to succeed. Any hesitation will lead to adverse consequences," he told the New Straits Times.
The NACS 2024-2028 was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier today, and outlined five core strategies in efforts to prevent corrupt practices in the country. It is continuation from the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023.
The five key strategies outlined in the NACS are education, public accountability, voice, enforcement, and incentives, with 60 sub-strategies to be implemented over five years.
It encompasses politicians, public administration, government procurement, law enforcement, legal and judicial institutions, the private sector, and the public.
While touching on the "incentives" aspect in the NACS, Jasi said the authorities must elaborate further on them because people needed to know about how these will apply to private sector and people directly involved or affected by corruption.
He said transparency regarding all types of incentives was essential for fostering trust and cooperation among all quarters.
In terms of educating the public, Jais said anti-corruption NGOs like MCW rely on special funding to execute various educational and awareness initiatives. He urged the government support the watchdog group in this regard.
Meanwhile, former Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission commissioner Professor Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood said public awareness has become part of the agenda in NACP and NACS.
He said corruption is a "game of opportunity and chance" and it is time for Malaysia to plug these holes that allow such opportunities for graft.
"The MACC has been conducting many activities to this end. It is a matter of improving existing awareness and gauging the success of these activities," he said.
On the matter of incentives, he said, such rewards may trigger and encourage civil servants to report corruption but there should also be mechanisms to punish civil servants who fail to report corruption.
"In fact, the MACC Act has provided for that. The carrot-and-stick approach may work.
"However, personal values, conscience, religiosity, and integrity are essential factors to determine that civil servants are sensitive to corruption or otherwise," said Nik Kamal.