by AZALEA AZUAR / Pic Source: Mohd Zuki Ali’s Facebook

THIS year’s Integrity Governance and Anti-Corruption Awards (AIGA 2022) will be open to participants from all over Malaysia.

Organised by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), it was previously only open for participants in Pahang.

This decision was a call from IIM’s chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali (picture).

IIM CEO Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi said taking inspiration from the Anti-Corruption Management system (ISO 37001) as well as the Adequate Procedure Guidelines, the award evaluation is conducted in a more inclusive manner covering all aspects including integrity management, governance and anti-corruption efforts in participating organisations.

“Apart from the national level, AIGA will also be held at several state levels such as Pahang, Sarawak, Perak, Johor and Melaka,” she said in her opening remarks during the launch of the awards today.

AIGA 2022 will be held in November in conjunction with the National Integrity Day, which falls on Nov 5 annually.

The awards are open to both public and private agencies whether they are government bodies, full-bodied or semi-bodied.

The evaluation will focus on the organisation’s ability and availability in implementing its management system control as well as accepting and understanding each of its employees. 

This is to produce citizens of high integrity and free of corruption.

Last year, a total of 11 agencies won the gold award, 14 won silver while eight won bronze.

BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd, FGV Refineries Sdn Bhd, Pahang Public Works Department and Cameron Highland District Council were among the winners of the gold awards.

Unfortunately, none of the participants took home the platinum award last year, where they must have a score of 90% and above.

Mohd Zuki believed that the award is a government initiative through IIM to cultivate integrity, best governance and anti-corruption, especially in public organisations and the private sector.

It also showcases an organisation’s capabilities, commitments and determination in strengthening the implementation of the internal control management system and the prevention of corruption.

IIM will also be releasing several new initiatives this year such as the Enforcement Integrity Module, the Malaysian Corporate Integrity System training module, the Community Integrity Development Module and the Adequate Procedure Training Module for Section 17A.

“IIM will also further strengthen its advocacy activities and programmes and engage with various stakeholders to disseminate its role, especially in strengthening the cultivation of governance and integrity values among public and private servants.

“In addition, IIM will continue to play its role in the successful implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023 initiatives,” Mohd Zuki added.

These initiatives mainly involve developing an Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan by all public and private organisations and implementing the Anti-Bribery Management System MS ISO 37001 certification by government agencies.

Finally, he added that all these efforts are a follow-up to the new mandate which was given to IIM to strengthen the quality and performance of the public and private sector governance in Malaysia.