Friday, April 25, 2008

DBKL acts to stamp out corruption - The Star

April 25, 2008 By ESTHER CHANDRAN

A TOTAL of 10 City Hall staff have been investigated by the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) for corruption so far.

As such, DBKL wants to improve the public’s perception of the local authority by showing transparency in conduct and to eradicate complaints of corruption among its staff.

DBKL director general Datuk Salleh Yusup said all 12,000 employees would have to attend courses and training to understand the importance of anti-corruption.

He said City Hall was working with the ACA on an integrated plan to educate its staff on the vices of corruption.

Departments considered “high risk” were those that were constantly dealing with the public.

Salleh said the Planning, Building Control, Housing Management Department, Public Works Department and Hawkers Department were among those considered “high risk”.

“The plan involves providing them with education and information on corruption as a vice, ways to stamp it out, penalty for accepting bribes and the necessary action that can be taken against those found guilty of corruption.

“The penalty for those found guilty is rather severe,” he said, adding that he hoped the efforts would deter DBKL staff from corruption.

He said DBKL staff had been sent for courses, including personal morale development, in batches since 2007.

Salleh said the training was the first of its kind to be implemented for any local authority in the country.

“We want to win back the people’s confidence and we are trying our best to educate our staff to project and portray a clean image,” he said at a meet-the-press session on Wednesday.

On another matter, Salleh said the construction of the new Datuk Keramat market would be completed by the end of May.

He said the market, complete with market space, retail area and hall that could accommodate 1,000 people, was needed to replace the old Datuk Keramat market that was rather run down and congested

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