KUALA LUMPUR: An independent oversight body with defined roles and sufficient authority to monitor delivery of public projects, such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 3, is needed to prevent corruption, says a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
In a statement today (Sept 19), Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said such oversight should be implemented via the Integrity Pact (IP) model, a mechanism in which public contracting authorities and bidders sign an agreement to refrain from corruption.
TI-M said this was necessary because Malaysia did not have a tripartite agreement signed alongside an independent expert tasked with monitoring and publicly reporting on the progress and quality of projects.
"Since the early 2000s, Malaysia has been experimenting with the use of integrity pacts as a means to ensure integrity in public procurement.
"However, the implementation in Malaysia has been lacking in a specific and important aspect, despite being introduced in a circular by the Finance Ministry.
"The model includes commitments from contracting authorities and bidders concerning integrity and anti-corruption, as well as sanctions for non-compliance (once convicted in court).
"But, what is missing is the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism," it said in a statement today (Sept 19).
The IP is a tool developed in the 1990s by Transparency International to help governments, businesses, and civil society prevent corruption in public contracts.
As part of this, civil society groups are brought in to monitor the contracting process like what has been done in several countries, which have then successfully reduced public expenditure.
TI-M added that it was also high time that the government acknowledged the gap in monitoring and delivering public procurement projects, which had resulted in ballooning costs, wastage, obsolete procurement, malfeasance and a decline in investor confidence in the country.
It also said the recent revelations in the auditor general's report, along with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) report that up to 70 per cent of complaints it received involved public procurement, showed that the country's track record was far from satisfactory.
At the same time, TI-M wanted more consultations between the government, the Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance, civil society groups and experts to take place before the tender for the MRT3 project was finalised.
"According to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and the MACC, the government is keen to work in partnership with civil society to eradicate and prevent corruption.
"If this is sincere and true, it must be demonstrated in practice, rather than in rhetoric. Using the IP tool in its proper form, complete with external third-party monitoring, will surely go some way towards making the right difference," it said.