The Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) has engaged with the local authorities to come up with an organisational anti-corruption plan (OACP) based on the ministry’s own five-year plan which was launched in November 2020.
This OACP plan for Kanowit District Council will be implemented from 2022 to 2026 according to the OACP plan that has been drafted by Task Force 19 PBT led by MLGH and assisted by the State Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNION).
At the time of writing, the implementation and monitoring of the OACP for the Kanowit District Council has not yet been implemented as the local authority is still in the final process of completing the plan.
It is noted that a uniform OACP will be developed and adopted by all 19 small local councils or Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) under the supervision of MLGH.
Thus, as of now, the State local authorities are still in the final stages of completing the OACP for 19 local authorities under MLGH for a period of 5 years, 2022-2026.
According to the draft of Anti-Corruption Plan for 19 PBT drafted by MLGH in October 2021, there are several priority areas that has been identified, namely;
- Human resources and governance
- Enforcement
- Finance and acquisition
- Project management and urban services
- Community development and library
(Source: Kanowit District Council)
Once completed, it will be approved by the MLGH’s Top Organizational Management Committee or Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Tertinggi Organisasi (JPTO).
The development process of OACP for all 19 local authorities is to include matters of;
-Data analysis
– Determine the context/status of corruption issues
– Identify the risk of corruption
– Identify priority areas that are at risk to be addressed
(Source: Kanowit District Council)
The OACP Development Process in local authorities is as follows:
- Data analysis
On 13 July 2021, the local authorities have collected the risk data that have been, are and will occur in each Section and Unit in all 19 local authorities Risk data was collected using the Risk Registration Schedule for the purpose of presenting it in the OACP 19 PBT virtual workshop.
- PBT pre-discussion
On 14 July 2021 MLGH held a pre-discussion with 19 local authorities and the facilitators of the 19 local authorities OACP to discuss and coordinate the program as well as the content of the workshop program.
The facilitators are from the State Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNION) and CeIO officers from the Council and MLGH.
- OACP 19 PBT virtual workshop
In collaboration with JP-OACP, MLGH held the workshop on 14 July 2021 to explain the development process of the OACP for the 19 local authorities.
The participants which consisted of officers in the 19 local authorities consisting of officers in 19 local authorities were divided into 6 groups to further discuss the risks that have been, are and will occur.
These six (6) groups represent 6 priority areas in the OACP 19 local authorities, namely;
- Human resources and governance
- Enforcement
- Finance and acquisition
- Project management and urban service
- Community development and library
(Source: Kanowit District Council)
- Establishment of AOCP Committee 19 PBT
The related OACP committees of the 19 local authorities, namely JPTO, JP-OACP and SP-OACP were established and came into effect on 9 August 2021 through a reference appointment letter: MLGH/AUD/27 Vol. 4 (16).
These committees have their respective roles in developing and completing the plan in accordance with the Sarawak State Integrity Circular No. 1 of 2020.
- OACP Scenario Discussion 19 PBT
As part of the OACP 19 PBT virtual workshop,each group presented the draft risks and proposed initiatives as well as the implementation period of the initiative.
Discussions were held on 30 July 2021, 4 to 6 August 2021 and 12 until 13 August 2021 according to the respective groups.
- OACP 19 PBT Refinement Workshop
OACP Refinement Workshops for 19 local authorities were held on 25 August 2021, 27 August 2021 and 10 September 2021 and were attended by the JP-OACP and SP-OACP.
Facilitators from UNION, CeIO MLGH officials and the Council coordinated this workshop.
This workshop aims to refine the risk outcomes and action plans of OACP 19 PBT 2022-2026 that have been prepared in the previous Scenario Discussion.
- Presentation of OACP 19 PBT JPTO
The final plan of the PBT OACP was presented to the JPTO on 17 September 2021 for approval.
Currently, 19 local authorities are reviewing the final draft of the OACP 19 PBT for improvement after it was presented to the JPTO before it is finalized.
* JPTO – Organizational Top Management Committee or Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Tertinggi Organisasi
* SP-OACP – Coordinating Secretariat Committee OACP or Jawatankuasa Sekretariat Penyelaras OACP
* JP-OACP – Development Committee OACP or Jawatankuasa Pembangunan OACP
* CeIO – Certified Integrity Officer
* PBT – Local Authority or Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan