A NEW set of guidelines will be issued to civil servants to ensure support letters or references do not end up being misused for personal interests, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said today.

It said this was among matters agreed upon in the Special Cabinet Meeting on Anti-Corruption chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“The government takes a serious view of the issue of issuing support letters with elements of corruption and abuse of power, to the extent of jeopardising the image of the government administration,” the statement read.

The meeting agreed in principle to proposed improvements to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to ensure a more reliable and effective complaint channel.

The PMO said the government is committed to implementing the governance empowerment agenda as best as possible to support the country’s development and ensure its efforts are free from corruption, malpractice and power abuse.

The meeting discussed the implementation status of the National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023 (NACP), as well as the empowerment of anti-corruption initiatives in line with article 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

“The government has agreed to continue the continuation of the NACP with a new strategy at the national level, known as the National AntiCorruption Strategies,” the statement read.

It also decided the Auditor-General’s Report should be presented periodically at the cabinet meeting for immediate follow-up. This will start with the 2022 report with a new, more structured format so each issue can be effectively acted upon.

The PMO also said the government will continue the anti-graft cabinet meetings to strengthen governance and combat corruption.

The Malaysian Governance Index will be used as a mechanism to measure the level of good governance in the country, while a study on the implementation of a governance act will be carried out to ensure effective practices, it said. – Bernama, July 6, 2023.