KUALA LUMPUR, 17 March 2009: Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today he would be committed to an administration based on the principle of openness, transparency and telling the people the truth when he takes over the helm of the country.
The deputy prime minister said that if the government spoke the truth to the people, then it would gain their confidence.
“A government must instill trust and confidence in the people so that they have confidence in the government. We have to be transparent, tell the truth to the people,” he said in reply to a question from the floor at the “National Integrity Agenda Conference: Evaluation and Direction” at the Integrity Institute of Malaysia, here.
Najib said efforts to eradicate corruption and mould a society which was clean, of greater integrity and upheld moral values should be a cause that must be acculturated.
He said negative traits such as greed and self-interest, which fomented corrupt activities and abuse of power, should be discarded.
He said that in the aspect of government procurement, if a major portion of the procurement was based on open tender or at least restricted tender, it would help fight corruption.
“Maybe this will not be popular among certain quarters. Maybe the lobbyists may not like it. But I believe the people like it and will support the government more,” he said.
Najib said much of the procurement now was based on open bidding.
“I will also encourage electronic procurement (e-procurement). We are moving in that direction,” he said when replying to another question from the floor.
Najib said that in the aspect of appointments or transfer of officers such as chief executive officers (CEOs), the important elements applicable according to priority were integrity, ability and acceptability.
Najib said the national integrity movement should be encouraged and supported by all levels of society for mutual benefit.
On a question related to Umno, Najib, who is Umno deputy president, said he had a plan to bring reform to the principal party of the government and that he would make an announcement on that soon.
“The perception of Umno is that many people see the party as being arrogant and having unhealthy practices. We have to clean up Umno,” he said.
On the National Integrity Plan report which was launched today, Najib said that based on the report, the government could take pride that several achievements had been made in certain aspects.
Nevertheless, he said, it was evident that much remained to be done with regard to the people’s perception of corruption, a moral society and a society of greater integrity. — Bernama
Malaysian says
I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Words like openness, transparency, truth, trust, integrity, fighting corruption, etc when the people can clearly see the abuses in Perak, in the judiciary, in law enforcement, in Parliament, and the list of blatant and unashamed abuses of the law and the constitution. The people are not dumb, deaf and blind.
pure_bull says
Talk is cheap. But justice in BN-led Malaysia will cost real money.