09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MACC reaffirms vow to strengthen integrity, governance
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen global integrity and governance.
The anti-graft agency recently led the Malaysian delegation to the Saudi-Maldives International Forum on Integrity 2025 in the Maldives, which also included representatives from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, in his keynote address, highlighted the vital role of integrity in tourism and outlined Malaysia's efforts to address corruption risks in the sector.
"He also outlined the challenges and solutions implemented by Malaysia, including the introduction of an online tourist registration system, the use of a centralised foreign worker management system, the installation of autogates at airports, and the formulation of the National Tourism Policy and National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).
"He also addressed critical issues such as the misuse of tourist visas for human trafficking, fraud in online tourism services, bribery in the visa approval process and illicit collaboration between travel agents and enforcement officers," the agency said in a statement.
The MACC delegation also engaged in bilateral meetings with international counterparts, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of South Africa, the Anti-Corruption Directorate under the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Republic of Maldives.
"These discussions open the door to deeper cross-border cooperation, particularly in information exchange, investigative collaboration, and technical support in anti-corruption enforcement and prevention," the MACC said in a statement.
The forum, held from May 6 to 7 at Villa Nautica in the Maldives, marked the first international initiative of its kind focusing on corruption in tourism.
It carried the theme "Strengthening Integrity and Combating Corruption in the Tourism Sector", and saw more than 190 delegates from more than 50 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries participating, including government officials, corporate leaders, international organisations and civil society representatives.
