The Ministry of Transport will be giving its fullest cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to address claims that department heads at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) have been ignoring MACC’s reports of misconduct against its officers.
On 9-May, News Straits Times published an interview with MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who said that there are 553 reports of misconduct made against personnel of government agencies but the reports were ignored by the respective heads of departments.
The police department tops the number of reports on misconduct, but MACC says this is also because they have the highest number of enforcement personnel.
JPJ has the second highest number of reports on misconduct.
On the same day the interview was published, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told The Star,
“I currently lack any concrete facts on the issue as I only learned of it through media reports this morning.
“I am now arranging for a meeting as soon as possible with Azam for the details and number of officers under my ministry that may be involved.
“I have also instructed all levels of my ministry from the Secretary-General to the head of every department to give their full cooperation in any investigations by MACC.
“Those found guilty with sufficient credible evidence of misconduct will have immediate action taken against them.”
Loke added that the alleged misconduct is most likely due to lack of due diligence rather than anything criminal-related, because if the latter is true, MACC has the authority to take direct action without going through the respective heads of departments.
“The cases of misconduct are likely officers who showed a lack of due diligence whether it was failing or refusing to perform their duties in a proper or timely manner.
“Otherwise, MACC would have the direct authority to take immediate action on suspected criminal offenders without needing to wait for our response,” he said.
Source: MACC says JPJ has second highest reports on misconduct, Minister Loke to take action