21-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MAG earns Malaysia's first airline anti-bribery ISO certification
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has become the first airline group in the country to receive the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification, reflecting its commitment to tackling bribery, fraud, and corruption.
MAG said the certification process received strong backing from its board of directors and group executive committee, and involved a comprehensive corruption risk assessment, the establishment of a dedicated Working Group Committee, and the creation of the ABMS framework.
"This was complemented by 16 training sessions, workshops, and awareness campaigns rolled out across key business functions to embed the principles of integrity throughout the organisation," it added.
The certification covers group-level functions related to governance, risk, compliance, sustainability, and leadership, with established controls to mitigate bribery risks in key areas such as procurement, vendor relations, and third-party dealings.
The aviation group also said it maintains a publicly accessible whistleblowing platform, providing a safe and confidential channel for reporting any suspected misconduct.
"Within the organisation, the group business integrity unit currently has two certified integrity officers (CeIOs), with plans to certify more personnel across departments to ensure the ABMS is sustained and embedded throughout the group," it said.
MAG said it plans to gradually extend the certification to cover additional business pillars and entities, aiming to build a business ecosystem rooted in integrity and ethical practices at every level.
Its group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said a strong anti-bribery system needs to be led from the highest level of leadership.
"This certification is not just a formality, it is a firm declaration of our zero-tolerance stance against bribery, fraud, and corruption.
"ISO 37001 reinforces the controls we have built into every part of our operations, from procurement and policymaking to how we engage with partners, be it in Malaysia or our international offices," he said.
Izham stated that the certification is a clear reflection of MAG's dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity and its responsibility in swiftly addressing any breaches of compliance.
He said trust and good governance are essential and not optional as they form the backbone of a sustainable aviation industry, and this achievement reinforces MAG's leadership in that area.
