Monday June 25, 2012

Proposal for govt soft loan transparency

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has put forth the proposal for requiring ministers and civil servants to declare to the Cabinet, should their family members apply for any government facility.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Sutinah Sutan said the Commission is tabling the proposal as a new clause under the Public Service Code of Conduct, which would be in addition to the present regulation that requires civil servants on a project approval committee to recuse themselves from the panel if a relative is bidding for the project.

She said the Commission intends to avoid any misconception caused by the lack of transparency.

Sutinah said if the process were transparent, people would be less likely to claim abuse of power.

The proposed clause is one of six recommendations to improve the system and procedures used to award the RM250mil National Feedlot Centre soft loan, which is based on an in-depth study of the NFC case by the Commission’s corruption prevention unit.

MACC’s recommendations were presented to the Finance Ministry along with other ministries and agencies involved in the case, which include the establishment of clearer and more transparent standard operation procedures for the approval of soft loans.

It also made a recommendation to the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry to make background checks of companies and their capabilities before awarding contracts.

The MACC was mandated to lead the fight against corruption as one of the seven NKRAs of the GTP.

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