KUALA LUMPUR: Gift-giving and organising lavish event for high-ranking officials will impact the morale and work performances of civil servants.
Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said the burden of such practices brings about negative things across an organisation.
"This burden can give a negative impact on their morale and work performance.
"These practices not only create a negative perception but could also damage the integrity of the civil service," he told the New Straits Times.
Instead, he believes that there should be a more fair and ethical culture to celebrate higher-ranking officials. He said civil servants must also ensure there are no corrupt elements in the workforce.
In this regard, Jais said the MCW wholly supports the "No Gift Policy" and urges all parties in the civil service to
uphold the directive.
"Compliance with this policy is not only important to prevent corruption but also to maintain a culture of integrity and transparency. We believe that compliance will help to create for a more clean and professional work environment", Jais said.
Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman, Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar had said that the The practice of giving gifts, organising parties, and sponsoring public service programmes poses a risk of fostering a culture of bribery if left unchecked.
He said paying tribute, an age-old practice where subordinates make contributions of money, gold, or gifts to higher-ranking officials – traditionally seen as gestures of respect and appreciation – remains prevalent today.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan Kittu Abdullah said he is stunned that such practices are done with impunity in the first place.
"It is surprising why there is already a policy (against it), but it is not followed by civil servants and no action is taken against those who do it.
"This is clearly a non-compliance issue and failure in governance," he told the NST.
He urged Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali to address the culture in the civil service.
"The Chief Secretary to the Government should immediately find out why such policies exists and why civil servants or the heads of departments are not following it", said Muhammad Mohan.
He stressed that nothing short of firm action against those who perpetuate such practices was in order. He said a change in the guidelines for such things should also be done if necessary.
"If the ("No Gift Policy") is not practical, change the policy to a 'Gift and Hospitality' policy with clear guidelines on what is allowed and the limits. But the policy must be enforced strictly," he said.