Latest news with #Ramdzan
![Legal framework for whistleblowers too rigid, says integrity institute chief [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
03-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Legal framework for whistleblowers too rigid, says integrity institute chief [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) believes that the current legal framework governing whistleblowers is too rigid to protect informants effectively, and that a realistic and robust system is long overdue. IIM president and chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud said more safeguards are needed to protect those who dare to expose wrongdoing from within. "Who would willingly come forward with information about a syndicate if their own life is at serious risk?" he said. Ramdzan, a former Special Branch director, said the legal requirements should not discourage the very people the system needed to come forward. The current internal systems, particularly supervisory roles and structural vulnerabilities, must be reviewed, he said. Ramdzan, who is also the former Special Branch director, said whistleblowers aren't created overnight. "A person working inside a syndicate, for example, has likely been involved in its activities for some time. It's not as simple as someone working today and turning into a whistleblower tomorrow. They've likely thought long and hard about the risks involved. "If they're willing to come forward, then we have to ask: what can we offer them? And more importantly, is that offer worth the risk in their eyes? They know that the moment they blow the whistle, their identity is essentially exposed. They become a target. And that's where we step in — to offer protection and support." Ramdzan's statement comes as the government is pressing ahead with reforms to the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, which were passed in the Dewan Rakyat last month. Some of the amendments were expanding reporting channels and including the possibility of allowing disclosures to parties other than enforcement agencies, with the aim of encouraging more whistleblowers to come forward without fear. Civil society organisations and politicians have called for more changes, such as protection for disclosures made in good faith to the media, and for whistleblowers who may have been complicit but are key to exposing systemic abuse. Under the current law, protection is only extended when disclosures are made to enforcement agencies, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Public disclosures — including to the media — are excluded, and whistleblower protection may be revoked if the informant is found to be involved in the offence. Ramdzan said formalising a "risk-and-reward" mechanism waskey to effective deterrence and could help address the limitations of the existing Whistleblower Protection Act 2010. He said whistleblowers who help prevent significant financial losses should be fairly compensated. "If we manage to prevent the leakage of RM1 million in subsidised goods, is it unreasonable to suggest that 10 or 15 per cent go to the informant?" he said. He said a certificate of appreciation carries little weight and informants who provide information leading to major busts should receive meaningful rewards. However, he cautioned that whistleblowing must not be driven purely by personal gain. "If every case involving money turns into a reward opportunity, we risk losing control," he said. "If someone comes forward out of revenge, such as failing to secure a contract, they are an offender too. Integrity must exist even in the whistleblower," he added.
New Straits Times
03-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Rebuilding public trust is key, says new integrity institute chief [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: For the newly appointed Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) president and chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, the fight for national integrity begins with an uncomfortable truth — rebuilding public trust is no small feat. Lack of trust, he said, makes it extremely difficult for any institution to function effectively. Speaking to the New Straits Times in his first interview as IIM head, Ramdzan, who joined the institute on July 23, said public confidence in the system hinged on more than just slogans or regulatory targets. With more than 38 years' experience in the police force, including as Special Branch director, he brings a practitioner's lens to an institute often dismissed as symbolic. "The government is serious about integrity, and we're trying to strengthen it across the board," he said, thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and the IIM board for placing their trust in him. "It's about meaningful service delivery. As an officer, yes, you have your core responsibilities — fighting crime, upholding the law. But what the public wants to see is more than that. "They want to see officers go the extra mile. Present, engaged and willing to help even in small, everyday situations," he said. Today, Ramdzan is focused on embedding integrity education from the earliest stages, with a dedicated preschool module currently in development and set for pilot implementation next year. "We (IIM) are working with multiple ministries, government agencies and relevant non-governmental organisations, developing a module for nurseries and preschools. Once finalised and approved, it will be used as a national guideline," he said. This initiative complements the institute's Integrity Youth Ambassador (IYA) programme launched in 2024 — a strategic effort to cultivate integrity-driven leadership among youth. Targeted at students aged 16 and above with demonstrated leadership potential, the IYA programme offers a platform for the students to become positive change agents through structured training, mentorship and community-based engagement in ethics, good governance and civic responsibility. "If you don't start instilling integrity early, you can't expect people to grasp its meaning later in life," Ramdzan said. Beyond policy reforms and institutional safeguards, he said, building integrity must be a whole-of-society effort. He cited past abuse cases, including one involving a child, that only came to light because of concerned neighbours. "If the neighbours hadn't spoken up, that child might not have survived. Everyone plays a role in building a culture of integrity; it's not just the government."
New Straits Times
02-08-2025
- New Straits Times
Integrity agency pushes for overhaul to strengthen civil service accountability [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) is pushing for an overhaul in how integrity is assessed in the civil service, including tighter asset declaration protocols and making the Individual Integrity Profiling (IIP) system mandatory for frontline personnel. Its president and chief executive officer, Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, said the move involves strengthening supervisory accountability to close enforcement gaps and prevent abuse of power. The push aligns with the Madani government's civil service reform, which promises cleaner governance and improved transparency. It comes amid mounting public pressure following cases like the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) counter-setting scandal, where Immigration officers colluded with syndicates, exposing systemic flaws. In July, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) also found foreign travellers carrying images of local enforcement officers, believed to be part of syndicates' tactics to identify officers and bypass scrutiny. MCBA director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain warned that syndicates were now equipping individuals with photos of officers in uniform and plainclothes to aid illegal entry. "Corruption happens due to weaknesses in internal enforcement systems," said Ramdzan. Acknowledging rising public unease over ostentatious displays of wealth among enforcement officers, Ramdzan said: "If you have a million ringgit in your account and are living luxuriously, people will question whether that matches your salary." He highlighted inconsistencies in asset declaration processes across agencies and emphasised the role of supervisors in flagging suspicious behaviour. "If your officer wears a Rolex today, an Omega tomorrow, or drives a different luxury car every other day and you don't ask questions, what kind of supervisor are you?" Ramdzan said IIM was committed to tightening asset declaration guidelines, stressing that integrity must be non-negotiable. "Currently, we are reviewing the tightening of governance guidelines related to asset declarations, particularly for public servants, so that we can identify any irregularities or suspicious changes in lifestyle and asset acquisition," he said. He highlighted the IIP assessment system, a questionnaire-based data-gathering tool designed to screen officers across agencies by capturing indicators related to background, personality traits and performance. Introduced in 2022, the IIP system focuses on how individuals demonstrate integrity within a work environment, including aspects like honesty, rule-following and ethical decision-making. Ramdzan said the system provided a risk profile to help relevant agencies make informed assessments. However, he said the IIP system's effectiveness depended heavily on how rigorously it was enforced. "So, it is only as good as its enforcement. If agencies don't use it, it becomes just another formality," he said. Beyond screening tools, Ramdzan said the deeper issue was in a cultural failure to confront misconduct. "The bigger issue is our collective reluctance to speak up or question what clearly looks wrong. "Silence enables abuse and integrity ultimately begins with accountability at every level of public service."
