Enhanced Governance, Preventive Measures To Address Integrity Deficit - PSD DG

BACHOK, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The public service is currently facing an integrity deficit and negative perceptions, despite increasingly aggressive detection and prosecution efforts by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

He explained that data shows the global perception of corruption levels in Malaysia remains unchanged, prompting the government to strengthen governance and implement preventive measures at both agency and leadership levels.

“To address this issue, the government has introduced two new initiatives. First, the Government Service Efficiency Commitment Act by the Public Service Department, aimed at improving service quality and governance transparency.

“Second is the implementation of the Integrity and Governance Management System (SPINE) by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity, designed to comprehensively strengthen public sector integrity and governance,” he said in his speech at the MADANI Public Service Seminar at the Tuanku Chancellor Hall, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Bachok campus, today.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan also said that institutional friction and bureaucratic red tape remain major challenges in public service delivery.

He explained that these challenges stem from internal structural barriers within organisational governance, which hinder cross-agency collaboration, reduce efficiency, and result in resource wastage.

“One of the main factors is a silo mentality, which makes it difficult to implement national strategic initiatives.

“For example, the rollout of the government’s end-to-end digital service, which requires seamless digital integration and service delivery across agencies, has been hindered because each agency operates independently,” he said.

He added that this situation disrupts critical service chains and negatively affects the quality of services delivered to the public.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said that to address these issues, the government has introduced the Public Service Reform Agenda (ARPA) and the Demerit Performance Evaluation (DEEP).

“As a result, in 2024, ARPA managed to save RM542 million, while DEEP is used to monitor department heads’ performance based on tangible impact on the public,” he said.

-- BERNAMA