IPOH: Individuals should not lodge reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) simply because they are unhappy about not securing a contract or tender, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar said while the authorities welcomed a culture of coming forward to report alleged misconduct, such complaints must be genuine and made in good faith.
“If there are valid complaints, reports should be lodged and the MACC will take action.
“However, some of the complaints forwarded to the MACC so far have come in the form of anonymous letters,” he told reporters after attending an anti-corruption and integrity convention and launch of the state-level “Keep Malaysia Clean” event held at the state secretariat building here Monday (Jan 26).
Also present was Perak MACC director Datuk Ahmad Sabri Mohamed.
Saarani added that when it came to anonymous complaints, it was important to ensure the complainant was sincere and not acting out of frustration after failing to secure a tender.
“We do not want a situation where, for example, seven companies participate in a tender, one succeeds, and the remaining six then lodge complaints simply because they were unsuccessful,” he said.
He said he had full confidence in the MACC’s capability and capacity to assess any reports received, adding that he had not been informed of any serious cases so far.
In his speech earlier, Saarani said the state government has reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and good governance as central pillars of the state’s socio-economic development.
He said integrity is the “soul of progress,” without which development gains could easily be lost, and public and investor confidence difficult to maintain.
“Investors come only when they trust our system is fair and transparent. The people believe only when aid reaches those who truly deserve it, and social justice exists only when opportunities are based on merit, not connections or influence,” he added.
Saarani said the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan places integrity and good governance at the core of all state operations.
He expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration with Perak MACC, calling for strengthened partnerships, refined implementation of anti-corruption strategies, accelerated digitalisation of services, and more transparent and accountable procurement processes.
“As part of this commitment, the state is continuing the Darul Ridzuan Integrity Champion (DRIC) programme to embed the values of integrity into the way public servants think, work, and make decisions,” he said.
