Integrity must guide decisions at all levels of leadership – Minister Abdul Karim

by DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 18: Integrity must go beyond being a formal requirement and be internalised as a core value reflected in every decision and responsibility entrusted to leaders and civil servants, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

With two portfolios in the Sarawak cabinet (Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, and Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development), Karim said integrity should not surface only during monitoring exercises or audits, but must guide daily conduct and decision-making.

In this regard, consistent with his prudent and integrity-driven approach, he said he deliberately distances himself from potential conflicts of interest to ensure that the trust placed in him is upheld transparently.

“When we are in positions of power, various methods are used to lobby for projects, including attempts to offer inducements. That is why I make sure not to be directly involved in procurement matters and instead leave them to the system and committees,” he said, according to a TVS report.

He made these remarks while officiating the Community Integrity Building (CIB) Programme for Integrity Development Awareness with the Community at the Dewan Peladang Kota Samarahan today.

Abdul Karim, who is also the Asajaya State Assemblyman (ADUN), stressed that failure to reject corruption could tarnish a person’s reputation and public trust.

“Therefore, all parties, including leaders, civil servants and community heads, are reminded to carry out their duties with full trustworthiness and to distance themselves from any corrupt practices that could damage the reputation and credibility of the organisations they lead,” he said. – DayakDaily

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