Bachok: 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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 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. The government has introduced two new initiatives in response to this issue. The first is the Government Service Efficiency Commitment Act by the Public Service Department, aimed at improving service quality and governance transparency. The second initiative 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. Wan Ahmad Dahlan made these remarks during his speech at the MADANI Public Service Seminar at the Tuanku Chancellor Hall, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Bachok campus.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan also highlighted that institutional friction and bureaucratic red tape are significant challenges in public service delivery. These challenges arise from internal structural barriers within organisational governance, which hinder cross-agency collaboration, reduce efficiency, and lead to resource wastage. A notable issue is the silo mentality, which complicates the implementation of national strategic initiatives. For instance, the rollout of the government’s end-to-end digital service has been obstructed due to each agency operating independently, disrupting critical service chains and affecting the quality of services delivered to the public.

To address these issues, Wan Ahmad Dahlan noted that the government has introduced the Public Service Reform Agenda (ARPA) and the Demerit Performance Evaluation (DEEP). In 2024, ARPA successfully saved RM542 million, and DEEP is utilized to monitor department heads’ performance based on tangible impact on the public.