Category: Anti-Corruption

Bribery in Malaysia is a crime that carries significant penalties. The current legislation against corruption is very comprehensive. It is regularly used to prosecute high-level public service officials, politicians, executives, businessmen, and others who corrupt the system somehow. It has been used to put many people behind bars, including cabinet members, former prime minister Mahathir bin Muhammad bin Affen, and several prominent politicians.

The term “corruption” in Malaysia has many meanings. However, it simply means taking money or other gifts in exchange for a service rendered to another. This is considered to be corrupt activity and is an offense under the Anti-Corruption Act 2021. Bribery Malaysia is the most common type of payment in all levels of public service. The most common area where bribery occurs is in the civil service.

Bribery in Malaysia has become a subject of heated debate in the press. There are news reports that talk about the new anti-bribery laws that have been passed in Penang. These laws prohibit public servants, including those from holding certain posts, from accepting gifts or payments. They also require those who perform public service work to disclose any gifts they receive. These are designed to curb corrupt practices, but some see them as a government attempt to crush political opposition.

There is some evidence that the practice of Bribery in Malaysia is widespread throughout the country. According to the Polaris International Anti-Bribery Initiative, there are few prosecutions for bribery among the many reported incidents. This may seem like an ineffective deterrent. Another reason is a lack of awareness among the public as to what constitutes bribery.

The payment or exchange of financial or other advantages for the performance of public service is prohibited by law. This can include gifts, kickbacks, or other financial advantages. This is a criminal offense, and those found guilty can face jail time. Those who have received compensation or other favors for doing any deals or contractual agreements can be liable to penalties and lawsuits.

The government in Malaysia is on the verge of implementing many new anti-bribery policies. Many anti-bribery training programs are now mandatory for most organizations in the country. Likewise, more businesses and corporations are encouraging anti-bribery training in their companies. One of the main reasons is that bribery is one element that brings reputational and monetary loss for the company. With all these new measures in place, it is expected that anti-bribery would bring down bribery in Malaysia.

What is ISO 37001 Training?

This is a course and training offered for any state or governmental organization or any of its affiliates that provide the standards and requirements to establish the following to create a viable anti-bribery management system:

• 1: IMPLEMENTATION.
• 2: MAINTAINING.
• 3: IMPROVEMENTS.
• 4: REVIEWING

This ISO 37001 Training, though important to state and government organizations in mind, can be utilized by any organization in all sectors who can or may be faced with possible bribery, whether direct to employees or the big bosses themselves.

Although it can be integrated into any of the organizations already standing management and or security systems and can also be implemented as a stand-alone system

Why is an Anti-Bribery Management System important for any organization?

The training in this system of management can offer a framework for your organization and lead to:

• 1: Integrity in your organization.
• 2: Will help you and your organization combat and associated risks relating to possible bribery.
• 3: Creates and encourages a business culture that is not only decent but bribery free and trustworthy.
• 4: It can also assist the organization in the following when relating to bribery:
• identifying
• preventing
• responding
• compliance with set rules and anti-bribery laws
• enforces and encourages commitments voluntary from employees to any activity related or applicable to bribery

Once your company is certified, through completing this unique, rigorous, and excellent ISO 37001 Training, it will not only stand out as a beacon of anti-bribery practices amongst your competitors but will establish your organization and yourself as experts in keeping to the anti-bribery laws and by-laws.

This whole certification framework will make you and your organization stand out and be differentiated from any competitor that doesn’t have the same certification.

The standards set out in the training is to help or assist in:

• The proper guidance relating to anti-bribery
• I identifying the risks and attempts relating to bribery
• Detect any possible activity that may be or lead to bribery
• Teach relevant responses to all bribery attempts, conflicts or suspicions

This certification also enables and lists organization that complies with effective anti-bribery programs, policies, and processes and have the framework in place for the Management system to reduce the risks and implement the controls at an early stage already so that the learned needs and practices could follow such as:

• run a constant yet improving anti-bribery operation
• gain the advantage over all competitors
• Insuring toward clients and employees of the system in place to prevent bribery
• can and will attract new business
• prevent and address any risks related to bribery
• International recognition
• Confidence and trust promotion
• cost reduction
• conflict of interest prevention
• promote and work in the right culture of anti-bribery

The Implementation of ABMS Pakistan

The standards for Anti-Bribery Management System(ABMS) in Pakistan is the continuation of such policies all over the world. The reason to implement these provisions is to curb down bribery and corruption. As one of those countries who’ve had its fair share of mega-corruption and bribery scandals, the government cannot afford further issues. Thus the ABMS implementation makes it binding for all public and private offices and businesses to learn the ways and ensure practices that discourage, penalize, and control any elements of fraud and bribery.

Understanding the ABMS Standard

The ABMS standard came from the International Organization for Standardization(ISO) through the ISO 37001 provisions and came into full effect in 2016. The whole idea about the ABMS system is to enable organizations to implement policies for curbing corruption and bribery within the organizations. The ISO standards and its implementation are of significant importance as most of the world developed countries keep track of ABMS implementation in other regions. The countries with poor ABMS controls will find it hard to attract direct foreign investments or build strong trading relations with other countries.

The ABMS Policy In Pakistan

The country requires organizations to learn and implement ISO standards. In these regards, there are courses and classroom training that will help companies to learn about the purpose of ISO standards of ABMS. All organizations must ensure their top-management and supervisors take courses and understand the basic framework and operation of the ABMS Pakistan. It is also a mandatory training that follows a ‘Certificate of Attendance’ and completion of courses credentials.

With Pakistan looking to stabilize its economic condition, they need the support and investment of the International community. Most of these countries view ABMS standards and their implementation as a benchmark for making a financial decision. While Pakistan has placed the ABMS standards, there is still a lot of work required as the elements of corruption and bribery exist in most organizations. There are policies of audits, corporate investigations and whistleblowing to identify all the corrupt factors in an organization. Pakistan hopes to improve its ranking and bring in new investors so that the country can stabilize its economy.

With the importance of ABMS Pakistan, it is required by the senior management in organizations to have periodic training sessions on the ISO provision, so all the staff acquires the required knowledge to identify, stop, or report any form of transactions and deals that comes from bribery and corruption.