‘Bad apples in civil service must go’

NSTP

PUTRAJAYA: The country's top civil servant wants to make an example of the bad apples in the public service.

"We need to take them out of the system. These bad influences must be dealt with and serve as a reminder to the rest of the civil servants," Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said.

He is especially upset over alleged corrupt practices involving government servants.

During a dialogue at the National Integrity Convention here yesterday, he expressed disappointment over the recent case involving a 26-year-old officer with the Land and Mines Department.

The officer is being probed by the Anti-Corruption Agency on suspicion of receiving a RM2 million bribe last year as an inducement to change the status of land as well as for other favours.
Earlier, during the plenary session, Sidek, who is also the chairman of the Malaysia Institute of Integrity, outlined a set of priorities known as Target 2008 aimed at achieving the objectives of the National Integrity Plan. They are:

• Effectively reduce corruption, malpractices and abuse of power;

• Increase efficiency of the public delivery system and overcome bureaucratic red tape;

• Enhance corporate governance and business ethics;

• Strengthen the family institution; and,

• Improve the quality of life and people’s well-being.

Present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.