THE Penang government will sign an anti-corruption pledge provided it is followed by concrete action to fight graft, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim also said the pledge should contain ten items that is practised by the state government.

“We want the pledge to contain ten items accepted and practised by the Penang government, which is recognised as a clean state in Malaysia,” he told a crowd of thousands at the Penang Bersatu Hari Raya open house on Jalan Burma tonight.

The 10 items are:

• Administering the state using CAT – competency, accountability, transparency – principles
• Institutionalising open asset declaration by the chief minister and exco members
• Implementing open competitive tenders
• Barring family members from being involved in government contracts
• Prohibiting assemblymen and administrators from applying for and obtaining state land
• Protecting genuine informants and whistleblowers
• Taking action against leaders who live beyond their means
• Practising transparency in political contributions
• Not accepting personal donations
• Taking action against government officers who violate all the rules and practices above

Lim reiterated that the MACC had not contacted his administration about the pledge, adding that it would welcome discussions had the graft buster approached the state government.

Last week, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said three opposition held state governments – Kelantan, Penang and Selangor – had yet to sign the pledge.

He said he was disappointed with Penang’s refusal, as signing it would show the state took the fight against corruption and power abuse seriously. – July 20, 2017.