UTAR hosts anti-corruption and integrity empowerment talk to promote organisational ethics

The event took place on 11 November 2024 in a hybrid format, allowing around 100 students to attend both in person at UTAR Sungai Long Campus and online via MS Teams. Hosted by Puan Shafinaz and her colleagues from the MPU3202 Integrity and Anti-Corruption course, Puan Rozitaayu binti Zulkifli, Assoc Prof Dr Low Mei Peng, and Dr Mahendra Kumar Chelliah of the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM), the session highlighted the importance of ethics and organisational accountability. Their collaborative effort created a highly informative session, reinforcing the University’s commitment to promoting integrity among its students.

Madam Tan, a Certified Financial Investigator accredited by Bank Negara Malaysia, shared her specialised expertise in tracking and analysing financial data related to corruption, offering practical insights into anti-corruption practices and MACC’s mandate. Her certification in financial crime investigation further equipped her to discuss key legal frameworks, including corporate liability and the implementation of adequate procedures under the MACC Act, particularly Section 17A.

Madam Tan’s presentation covered essential areas to understanding Malaysia’s anti-corruption strategies. Commenting on the MACC Act 2009, Madam Tan explained, “This Act lays the foundation for our anti-corruption efforts, detailing the definitions and examples of corruption while also clarifying the responsibilities of corporate bodies in combating corruption.” This overview emphasised the significance of the Act in shaping Malaysia’s legal framework for anti-corruption.

Madam Tan also highlighted MACC’s primary responsibilities. She explained, “The MACC not only receives and investigates complaints on corruption but also provides consultancy and advisory services to help organisations reduce corruption risks.” She added, “Through our educational outreach, we aim to foster a zero-tolerance attitude against corruption within the community.”

On the topic of gratification and how it’s defined under the MACC Act, Madam Tan outlined five fundamental elements used to determine if gratification constitutes corruption. She explained, “These elements play a crucial role in both legal proceedings and public understanding, ensuring that we have a clear basis for assessing cases.”

During the second half of the talk, Madam Tan focused on Section 17A of the MACC Act, which addresses corporate liability. She explained, “Section 17A was established to promote accountability within corporations, holding organisations responsible for any acts of corruption carried out on their behalf.” She continued, “This provision encourages companies to implement strong anti-corruption programmes, like staff training and transparent reporting systems, which are essential in cultivating a culture of integrity.”

Finally, Madam Tan stressed the importance of legal recourse for corrupt practices, saying, “Section 17A empowers the MACC to act decisively against organisations without adequate anti-corruption measures, creating a powerful deterrent to unethical practices.”

The session proved invaluable in offering students and faculty an in-depth view of Malaysia’s anti-corruption strategies, equipping them with knowledge about corporate liability and the importance of integrity in upholding ethical standards. The talk, part of the MPU3202 Integrity and Anti-Corruption module, reflects UTAR’s dedication to educating its community on the essential values of transparency and accountability.