KUCHING: The Forest Department Sarawak is serious about stamping out corruption in its offices throughout the state.
The department’s director Datuk Hamden Mohammad said the department had published its Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan (OACP) and now has a number of Certified Integrity Officers (CeIO).
“Through the restructuring of the department on Jan 2 last year, the state government has ordered that all management functions and forest operations be implemented as stipulated under the State Forestry Ordinance 2015.”
Hamden revealed this in his speech today during the celebration of the Forestry Department Sarawak Integrity Day 2021 and pre-launching of the department’s OACP at the Imperial Hotel Kuching.
Present to officiate at the event was Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity & Ombusdman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
“With the OACP, it is easier for the department to supervise forest activities and industries,” said Hamden, adding that his department was the first to sign Corruption-Free Pledge on Dec 14 last year together with forestry agencies, licensees and contractors in Sarawak.
“All officers and staff are obliged to sign the pledge during the Aspiration Ceremony with the Director of Forest Department Sarawak,” he said.
Hamden added that the Forest Department is determined to achieve excellence through optimal use of technology and development of quality and high integrity human resources.
He believed that the use of technology to perform a variety of functions and activities could, to some extent, close the space and opportunities of misconduct that caused leakages.
“For example, the department strongly encourages licence holders to use Portal Licensing and E-Pass when they deal with this department.
“This action will reduce direct communication with officers or staff who may raise doubts and lead to wrong practices,” he said.
“Meanwhile, for the development of human resources with a pure soul and with integrity, the department through the Corporate and Media Unit has designed and organised various activities and awareness programmes.
“Organising programmes such as Integrity and Innovation Day, talks and pledges are seen as a step forward that has been implemented,” said Hamden.
Also present today was Unit of Integrity and Ombudsman director Adana Jed and Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sarawak director Muhammad Zaki Hassan.
