A Timely Press Statement by the elderly Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye

PRESS RELEASE FOR NST

16.8.24

The stance by the new Mayor of Kuala Lumpur Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif that there will be zero tolerance for corruption is indeed a significant and much-needed step to pave the way for a clean and efficient administration.

        It’s all the more significant since her commitment to a ‘clean’ City Hall was her maiden public announcement since taking office.

        As a first step, she has instructed the department heads and the executive management to monitor enforcement officers and others  who are said to be the middlemen between the offerors and receivers of bribes.

        Hopefully, this will eventually see a situation where under the table payments give way to over the table service.

        The Mayor’s statement is not just a statement.  It is a signal that the city is set to embrace a more transparent and accountable governance model.

        For businesses and individuals who have been the victims of corrupt officials, this message brings renewed hope and a clearer path forward.

        Corruption has long been a corrosive force in our urban environment, undermining public trust and creating inefficiencies, inflating costs and hampering service delivery.

        The Mayor’s firm stance is a clear break from the past.  

        It signals a shift towards a cleaner and more efficient administration.

        It is a commitment to ensuring that the city is managed not for the benefit of a few but for the good of all.

        For businesses, this anti-corruption stance is particularly encouraging.  

        Corruption often means businesses have to  navigate a maze of bribes and unofficial payments to get things done.

        Hopefully, this commitment to fairness can attract more investors, both local and international.  

        For the rakyat, this zero-tolerance approach offers hope for better public services including  licensing, planning approvals, housing and social services, as well as fairer treatment.

        Moreover, this stance fosters a culture of integrity, where public servants are reminded that their duty is to serve the people with integrity. 

        We applaud the Mayor for establishing her priorities and for enjoining senior City Hall officials to enforce them.

        To quote a previous OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria: “Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption have to be part of the culture.  They have to be taught as fundamental values”.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

MEMBER OF MALAYSIA INTEGRITY INSTITUTE