SEPANG: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has decreed that all civil servants must perform their duties in accordance with the law and avoid breaching regulations.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the King delivered this directive during an audience at Istana Negara this morning.
"This morning, I was granted an audience with the King at Istana Negara. His Majesty instructed government officials to follow the rules and not violate regulations.
"His Majesty added that government officials stay in their roles, while politicians 'come and go,' and even the King himself 'comes and goes.'
"So, conduct your work with integrity," he said during the 2024 National Development Awards.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently revealed that 545, or 43.4 per cent, of the 1,257 individuals detained between January and October this year were civil servants.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that nine of those detained were in senior management, 181 in professional management, and 357 in execution/support roles.
Shamsul said that all programme or project management must be carried out with full accountability and integrity to uphold good governance.
He added that this would increase stakeholder confidence in the planning and implementation of government projects.
Separately, he noted that the Fourth Rolling Plan (RP4) under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) had reached 65.82 per cent, or RM59.24 billion, out of the RM90 billion allocated as of Nov 4, covering 8,719 programmes and projects.
"All ministries must work diligently to ensure that development funds are optimally utilised and to boost spending performance beyond 95 percent for RP4.
"With only one year left to meet the 12MP's goals, I urge all ministry secretaries-general to take a firm and reformative approach to executing development programs and projects," he said.