Secretaries general, dept heads must take matters raised in A-G's report seriously, says Public Service DG

PUTRAJAYA: Secretaries general and heads of departments in the public sector have been reminded to give serious attention to the remarks made in the Auditor-General’s Report regarding their respective ministries and agencies, in order to reduce wastage, leakage, and abuse of power. The Director-General of Public Service (KPPA), Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed, stated that this action is necessary to uphold the integrity and accountability of the public service.

He further added that “They (secretaries general and department heads) are also asked to be prepared for any remarks (in LKAN) that will be tabled in Parliament next month. As control officers at their respective ministries and agencies, integrity must be a top priority.” This statement was made in conjunction with the Integrity Empowerment Conference, organized by the Public Service Department (PSD) on September 27.

Zulkapli emphasized that civil servants hold the responsibility of ensuring that every member of their organization comprehends and appreciates honesty and trust, for these virtues to be reflected in their actions. He stated that all civil servants must adhere to the value of integrity to empower the country’s economic development, as stated in the Madani Economy framework. He stressed, “All of us will not compromise on the issue of integrity.”

Zulkapli further added that by committing to integrity, civil servants can strengthen Malaysia’s position as a respectable and esteemed developed nation on the global platform. This is essential in avoiding corruption and abuse of power.

The inaugural Integrity Empowerment Conference, themed “Membudaya Integriti, Memperteguh Malaysia Madani”, was conducted to provide a platform for individuals to exchange ideas and identify the best approaches to enhance governance aspects in the implementation of functions and responsibilities within ministries, departments, and agencies. They also discussed various issues related to audit findings and improvement measures.

– Bernama