KUALA LUMPUR: Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has called for accountability measures following allegations that Department of Environment (DOE) officers attempted to release e-waste consignments at Port Klang.
TI-M president Dr Muhammad Mohan, in a statement, said the DOE director must issue a full and transparent explanation regarding the allegations.
"Should the allegations be substantiated, we call on the government to take firm disciplinary action against the civil servants involved in this serious incident. This is a breach of public trust and a threat to environmental integrity. Those entrusted with enforcing our environmental laws must be held to the highest standards of accountability and integrity," he said.
Previously, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) had reported that the DOE failed to act on leaked information and that investigations into the e-waste consignments were delayed.
It was revealed that the EAIC investigation found leaks of information regarding the transfer of directors and officers and that the newly appointed directors and officers would release the said containers.
Muhammad added that incidents like this undermine Malaysia's efforts to combat corruption and improve its ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
"Malaysia's CPI score showed some improvement in 2023, but setbacks such as this highlight the ongoing challenges we face in eradicating corruption. Without decisive action, our progress will be hindered, and public confidence in our institutions will erode. We call on all relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served and that measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future," he said.