Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) signs Memorandum of Collaboration (“MoC”) to Promote Integrity and to Combat Corruption with the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM)
Transparency International Malaysia and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia are proud to announce the signing of a memorandum of collaboration outlining the areas of partnership to promote greater integrity, transparency, accountability and ethics in business and other professions. The formal signing ceremony to mark the event took place after ACEM’s Annual General Meeting on June 21st , 2008 at the Level 2 Ballroom, Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
These integrity pacts (IP’s) will help to improve overall governance through the adoption of special tools to raise transparency in management and the work place.
The purpose of the MoC is to effectively put in place structures to eliminate corruption by advocating and promoting accountability, transparency and integrity, in all business dealings and transactions, and also to create a culture of intolerance towards corruption. It also seeks to build institutional integrity in both the government and the private sector.
To help meet this objective and to support the mission of the MoC, TI-M and ACEM have agreed to formalise their collaboration on programs for outreach, advocacy and capacity building that would greatly benefit ACEM members, and to maximise TI-M’s and ACEM’s ability to review and comment on specifications and standards being advanced through their respective processes.
The key areas identified are, among others, the renewed commitments to Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance in their daily operations and having a code of conduct for ethics and good corporate governance. ACEM shall also endeavour to ensure that elements of corruption in any form in their business or operations will be addressed seriously. Programmes and frameworks such as Integrity Pacts (IP) and Code of Ethics will be put into practice to promote a culture of integrity amongst their members and associates.
Developed by TI, the Integrity Pact (IP) is a tool aimed at preventing corruption in public contracting. It consists of a process that includes an agreement between a government or a government department (at the federal, national or local level) and all bidders for a public contract. It contains rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will: pay, offer, demand or accept bribes; collude with competitors to obtain the contract; or engage in such abuses while carrying out the contract. The IP also introduces a monitoring system that provides for independent oversight and accountability.
TI-M believes that the use of IP’s will help to reduce cost push inflation through the reduction of wasteful corruption. TI-M hopes that government ministries and departments will also adopt these IP’s to improve efficiency and to reduce if not eradicate corruption which is spreading widely.
This week’s TI-M CEO Forum on corruption concluded that corruption has become very serious, is undermining Malaysia’s competitive position globally and will, if unchecked fast enough erode M
Malaysia’s integrity and well-being, especially among the poorest segment of our society.
The IP’s will therefore go a long way in combating the scourge of corruption in our country.
