Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) signs Memorandum of Collaboration (“MoC”) to Promote Integrity and to Combat Corruption with the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (MPMA)
Transparency International Malaysia and the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers’ Association are proud to announce the signing of a memorandum of collaboration outlining the areas of partnership to promote greater integrity, transparency, accountability and ethics amongst members of the MPMA. The formal signing ceremony to mark the event took place at MPMA’s 41st Anniversary Dinner on June 28th , 2008 at One World Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
TI was represented by its President, Tan Sri Navaratnam while MPMA was represented by its President Mr Lim Kok Boon. The signing was witnessed by Y.B. Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry.
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 MPMA have agreed to formalise their collaboration on programs for outreach, advocacy and capacity building that would greatly benefit MPMA members, and to maximise TI-M’s and MPMA’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. MPMA 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.
The recent TI-M CEO Forum on transparency concluded that corruption has become very serious, is undermining Malaysia’s competitive position globally and will, if unchecked fast enough erode 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.
Issued by
Tan Sri (Dr) Ramon V. Navaratnam
President
Transparency International Malaysia
