Chief Minister tells civil servants to continue improving efficiency level to allow no room for vice

KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday said inefficiency was one of the key factors that caused corruption and abuse of power.

He said the attitude of delaying, taking one’s own sweet time and being careless presents an opportunity to dishonest civil servants to commit graft.

The chief minister made the remarks in his speech at the closing of the 2009 Sarawak Anti-Corruption Carnival at Padang Merdeka here. His text of speech was read by Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Taib said the state government placed much emphasis in improving the efficiency of the civil service so that it would not leave room for such vice to occur.

He added that the state had even launched its motto ‘An honour to serve’ in order to create a civil service that was of high integrity and efficiency.

“Past experiences had shown that these noble values (integrity and efficiency) had made the country do well in its economy,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said the war against corruption did not rest on the shoulders of the government and the authorities alone, adding that it should be the concern of all.

He said the state and the country could only wipe out corruption if everybody said ‘no’ to corruption and realised that the activity would only pull the country and its people down.

Taib said this was in line with the mission of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who believed that each and every Malaysian should commit oneself to bring further progress to the country.

The chief minister said emphasis should be given to having a government whose administration and service delivery was effective and efficient with high integrity and disciplined civil servants.

He urged all heads of departments and leaders to be alert to this and take the initiative to ensure corruption or inefficiency did not occur in their workplace or area at all.

He commended the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Sarawak branch for holding the carnival to create awareness among the public on how corruption could cause the downfall of a society or country.

MACC chief commissioner Dato Sri Ahmad Said Hamdan in his speech earlier said the commission required the co-operation of everyone to eradicate corruption.

He said the carnival, held by MACC in collaboration with the state government, the Federal Secretary’s Department in Sarawak and Celebrity Recreation Club, was the first that involved a line-up of the country’s artistes and celebrities.

“It is hoped that by getting everyone together in one activity, we can create greater consciousness among the people about the negative effects of corruption,” he said.

Ahmad said apart from an exhibition and a concert, the carnival included a lot of sports and health activities like aerobic exercise, telematch and futsal.

He said there was also an anti-corruption run which involved around 3,000 participants from all levels of society.

State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Mohd Morshidi Ghani, Deputy Parliament Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and MACC Sarawak director Samsiah Abu Bakar were among those present.