Malaysia’s anti-graft panel chief says integrity must be a core value before taking on roles of public trust, linking corruption to national failure.

KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals must possess a high level of integrity before being appointed to positions of public trust and responsibility.

Chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Operational Evaluation Panel Datuk Ahmad Rosli Mohd Sham said integrity should be a fundamental value within a person before they enter service, not something cultivated only after employment.

“The strength of an organisation or country depends on the quality of its human capital,” he said in an interview with Bernama TV.

He stressed that the importance of integrity is reflected in national legislation, where violations linked to corruption are classified as criminal offences.

“No matter how skilled or intelligent a person is, if integrity is absent, that person can become antisocial and bring problems rather than being useful to the organisation or country,” Ahmad Rosli added.

He warned that a country plagued by corruption will face failed projects, weak law enforcement, and a severe erosion of public trust in its authorities.

The people must therefore hold on to strong values like sincerity and integrity in carrying out their responsibilities.

In this context, agencies like the MACC play a vital role in upholding integrity to build a developed nation with efficient public service delivery.

 The Sun Malaysia