Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low is pushing for a new law that would severely punish those employing illegal workers.
Launching the Anti-Corruption and Ethics Centre and the signing ceremony between the Construction Industry Development Board Holdings Sdn Bhd and Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) yesterday, he said it was part of his proposal as it was time for Malaysia to move forward with a stricter labour law with heavier punishment.
“The law that I’m currently pushing for is so prohibitive that you wouldn’t even dare to hire an illegal worker. The right amendments to the labour laws would need to be done first,” he said.
Low said he was working with the Finance Ministry to reward companies with clean records.
“Clean companies should be rewarded and companies that are not progressive must be punished if they refuse to change,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption and Ethics Centre – a brainchild of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission – would focus on raising awareness, providing information and identifying best practices to help organisations to develop their own anti-corruption controls and measures in a bid to boost effectiveness in combating graft in the construction sector.
“We want to see businesses in Malaysia include anti-graft controls and measures in their business agenda.
“The centre will be a tool to connect with various groups directly, effectively, and find ways to solve problems efficiently.
“We are also working with regulators such as the board to make inroads into the private sector,” MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Mustafar Ali told reporters after launching the centre.
Among those who attended the ceremony were CIDB chief executive officer Datuk Judin Abdul Karim, CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd general manager Latiff Ismail and GIACC co-founder and director Neil Standsbury.
news source: thestar.com.my