Lavishing gifts, organising parties for VIPs can foster culture of bribery in civil service, says EAIC chief

PUTRAJAYA: The practice of lavishing gifts, organising parties and sponsoring public service programmes – traditionally seen as gestures of respect and appreciation for high-ranking officials could foster a culture of bribery if left unchecked, says Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar.

He said paying tribute – an age-old practice where subordinates make contributions of money, gold or gifts to higher-ranking officials as a sign of respect remains prevalent today.

In modern public service, similar practices continue such as hosting extravagant dinners to welcome “guests” visiting field projects.

Ismail said that the culture of welcoming department heads or superiors with lavish banquets, gift-giving or other celebratory events should be made transparent, reduced or preferably stopped altogether.

He revealed that complaints have arisen about staff being told to prepare elaborate provisions to welcome ‘guests’ in the field, including hosting dinners and organising golf outings.

“If there is no allocation, you have to seek sponsorship. At times when this is difficult, you might have to resort to informal activities to contribute because the ‘boss’ is coming and you need to prepare dinner and a gift accordingly,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

Ismail said while field trips are beneficial, overly celebrating department heads at the expense of other officers is unnecessary and counter-productive.

“The field trip is valuable, but excessive celebrations for the head of the department, especially when funded by staff with low salaries, leads to a problematic culture,” he said.

He also expressed concern about the burden on staff to prepare donations for farewell parties or weddings involving superiors, which often results in staff seeking donations from external sources with dealings with the departments.

“The boss hosts a feast and invites everyone, but if this happens too frequently, it becomes a burden. When costs are insufficient, staff are asked to raise funds, or those with authority are requested to provide the venue, tables and meals.

“We should have progressed beyond these practices by 2024. Sometimes inappropriate gifts are given, which can lead to integrity violations if not addressed seriously,” he added.

Ismail urged civil servants to adhere to the no-gift policy and be cautious, particularly department heads, about whether a gift might compromise their ability to enforce departmental rules.

“We already have a no-gift policy. It just needs to be implemented. Avoiding practices that can lead to slander is crucial if you are committed to maintaining a high level of integrity,” he said. – Bernama