PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Malaysia (MACC) today launched an anti-bribery management system (ABMS) based on the Malaysian Standards (MS) ISO 37001:2016.
The ABMS is to guide and assist organisations in implementing and improving their respective anti-bribery management system.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the internationally-recognised ABMS will encourage better governance which can be applied as a medium for organisations to implement an effective anti-corruption management system.
“Any organisation can use MS ISO 37001:2016 as guidance to establish, implement, maintain, and improve its anti-corruption management system.
“Looking at the importance of the system in combating corruption, we engaged Standards Malaysia to adapt the standard so that it can be used widely by various entities in the country.
“Once implemented, the system can be used as anti-corruption compliance guidelines for all parties, in line with the proposed amendments to the MACC Act 2009, which will be tabled in Parliament soon,” he told reporters at the MACC headquarters, here.
Shamsun Baharin said MS ISO 37001:2016 is designed to be used by small, medium and large organisations in the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
He said the standard outlines various anti-bribery policies and procedures which an organisation should carry out to assist it prevent bribery.
“As everyone knows, currently, we only take action against individuals who are involved in corruption.
“The proposed corporate liability provisions are to hold companies accountable for corruption cases involving their employees.
"When this new bill is approved, it will give more power to the MACC in fighting corruption in the various sectors as it would allow firms to be held liable.
“When the Corporate Liability comes into force, organisations can use MS ISO 37001:2016 as a defence,” he added.
He said not only is MS ISO 37001:2016 can be an effective and proactive measure in fighting corruption, it can also restore confidence among the people on the efforts by the government to produce a corruption-free environment.
“As an anti-corruption regulator and scheme owner of ABMS Accreditation Programme which will soon be launched, MACC will ensure that the certification bodies accredited by Standards Malaysia are competent and knowledgeable on anti-corruption regulations,” he said.
Standards Malaysia director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said the initiative to develop MS ISO 37001:2016 started since March and was approved by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili on Oct 17.
“We hope this standard will help the government and private sectors, as well as NGOs, to take necessary actions in combating corruption in their organisation,” she said.