PETALING JAYA: A total of 50 misconduct cases involving workers in public agencies have been investigated by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) as of last month.
EAIC chairman Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar said the figure was slightly higher than the 36 cases recorded in the same period last year.
He said agencies with the highest number of cases included the Immigration Department, the Road Transport Department, the Labour Department, the Environment Department, the Fisheries Department, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the National Anti-Drug Agency.
About half of the agencies involved had implemented the commission’s recommended disciplinary actions, he said.
“In some cases, disciplinary actions differ from EAIC’s recommendations based on the nature of the misconduct and the agency’s judgment, showing both compliance and areas where stronger accountability is needed,” he said.
Recently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said revealed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened more than 80 investigation papers on graft cases across several ministries.
She said 3,630 people, including civil servants, politicians and staff of private companies and GLCs, were convicted of various offences from 2020 to September this year.
Commenting on the figures, Ismail said the numbers were significant but did not automatically indicate an alarming deterioration in integrity.
“MACC focuses specifically on corruption-related offences, while EAIC oversees a broader spectrum of misconduct across enforcement agencies.
“Corruption cases, therefore, represent only one segment of wider integrity issues,” he said.
Importantly, he said, the rising numbers also reflect stronger detection, reporting and enforcement.
Some cases reveal individual failures while others highlight systemic gaps that require attention, he added.
Ismail said the data should be viewed as a signal for continuous improvement, underscoring the need for robust internal controls, leadership accountability and sustained oversight to uphold ethical standards in the civil service and enforcement agencies.
He said heads of departments must adopt a non-negotiable policy to set clear boundaries, enforce consistent standards and take a firm stance that certain behaviours, breaches and actions cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
“This includes acting on misconduct even when decisions may be unpopular and enforcing rules consistently and impartially,” he said.
“EAIC observes that disciplinary effectiveness often depends on whether agencies act on recommended actions.
“Instances where recommendations are downgraded without justification or classified as No Further Action undermine organisational discipline.”
To uphold integrity, he said, misconduct should not be normalised.
“Shortcuts, procedural violations or misuse of resources must be addressed immediately with clear and consistent consequences,” he added.
Ismail said department heads and responsible officers must closely monitor staff conduct and promptly report any misconduct or abuse of power to relevant authorities, including EAIC.
Failing which, he proposed that disciplinary action, including restrictions on promotion eligibility, be taken against them.
“To emphasise leadership responsibility, the chief secretary to the government has mandated EAIC to include the Demerit Performance Evaluation System in its disciplinary recommendation letters,” he said.
The mandate, Ismail said, gives EAIC’s recommendations binding weight, making them more than mere advice and ensuring they are acted upon.
He said EAIC advocates a proactive and preventive approach, in which all parties – including integrity units and watchdog bodies such as EAIC, MACC and the Independent Police Conduct Commission – work together to monitor conduct, identify risks and implement preventive measures.
