MACC: Civil servant among 14 detained in Sarawak this year for corruption
(The Borneo Post) – A total of 14 individuals, including a civil servant, in the state have been detained so far this year under Ops Tukul – an integrated operation launched in October to combat corrupt practices related to illegal logging.
State Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Badrul Shah Norman said nine of them had already been brought to court.
“The civil servant is alleged to have accepted bribes. We hope that this pre-emptive action in arresting these individuals would serve as deterrent to other civilians on any intention to engage in corruption,” he said during a dinner hosted by the commission for members of the media at Sarawak Golf Club here on Thursday.
The ‘Ops Tukul’ is a joint conduct between MACC, police, Marine Operations Force, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Forestry Department and General Operations Force.
Based on recent news, the arrested civil servant had been identified as a district CID chief, who is said to have been accepting bribes totalling RM16,000 from illegal loggers.
Badrul Shah also mentioned that from the beginning of the year until Dec 15, 57 individuals – including 10 civil servants – had been detained for various corruption-related offences.
Out of this figure, 42 had been brought to court including the nine detained under Ops Tukul, he added.
He also hailed the signing of the Corporate Integrity Pledge by the state’s ‘Big Six’ logging companies on Nov 17 this year, as a ‘historical milestone’.
He pointed out that in terms of prevention, the ceremony that it organised in collaboration with state Forestry Department at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here, was a success.
“For the first time ever, these giant timber companies in Sarawak had taken the pledge to be transparent and have integrity in their business deals and logging activities,” he said.
Representatives from KTS Group of Companies, Rimbunan Hijau, Samling, Shin Yang, Ta Ann and WTK Holdings Bhd signed the pledge drew up by MACC and Forestry Department, at the event witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
For next year, Badrul Shah said MACC vowed to be more proactive in handling corruption-related issues
“MACC Sarawak would continue to be more proactive in tackling corruption issues brought up by the public and is determined to engage with non-governmental organisations, community leaders, the private sector and local communities in sending out the anti-corruption message.”
He also called on local media organisations to assist the commission in combating corruption by creating public awareness of the dangers of corruption.
“There are many development projects and programmes implemented by the government; most are big and being conducted simultaneously.
“This, to some extent, could invite problems, paving the space and opportunity for all types of corruption, abuse of power and misappropriation to happen,” Badrul Shah said.
