The Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Malaysia (MACC) launched an anti-bribery management system (ABMS) based on the Malaysian Standards (MS) ISO 37001:2016.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the internationally-recognised ABMS will encourage better governance which can be applied as a medium for organisations to implement an effective anti-corruption management system.

“Any organisation can use MS ISO 37001:2016 as guidance to establish, implement, maintain, and improve its anti-corruption management system”.

“Looking at the importance of the system in combating corruption, we engaged Standards Malaysia to adapt the standard so that it can be used widely by various entities in the country.”

“Once implemented, the system can be used as anti-corruption compliance guidelines for all parties, in line with the proposed amendments to the MACC Act 2009, which will be tabled in Parliament soon,”.

“As everyone knows, currently, we only take action against individuals who are involved in corruption”.

“The proposed corporate liability provisions are to hold companies accountable for corruption cases involving their employees”.

“When this new bill is approved, it will give more power to the MACC in fighting corruption in the various sectors as it would allow firms to be held liable”.

“When the Corporate Liability comes into force, organisations can use MS ISO 37001:2016 as a defence”.

Standards Malaysia director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said the initiative to develop MS ISO 37001:2016 started since March and was approved by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili on Oct 17.

“We hope this standard will help the government and private sectors, as well as NGOs, to take necessary actions in combating corruption in their organisation”.

(Font: New StraitsTimes – The full original article can be found at www.nst.com.my)