Local council members in Pahang have been banned from taking part in tenders or procurement exercises within their own local authorities, in line with recommendations from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The ban was endorsed by the Pahang state executive council recently, with amendments made to the code of conduct for local councillors, Berita Harian reported.
However council members are still allowed under the new rule to take part in tenders offered by other local authorities.
The state government decision was made after Pahang MACC had given several recommendations aimed at strengthening governance practices during a special briefing with the state secretary’s office on Aug 7.
State MACC director Shukor Mahmud said the prohibition was intended to reinforce integrity and efficiency in the state government.
“One of the main issues discussed then was related to the practices, systems, and procedures involving councillors in the tender and contract selection process. A proposal was put forward to improve transparency and accountability in this area.
“This recommendation stemmed from an investigation conducted by Pahang MACC in 2022 into alleged abuse of power by council members in Pekan.
“Although the investigation found no evidence of corruption or abuse of power, we identified areas where governance and procurement procedures could be improved through audits,” he said.
Shukor welcomed the state government’s commitment, describing it as a positive and commendable step.
“This measure has the potential to significantly strengthen governance standards while closing gaps and opportunities for corruption among council members, particularly in tender processes,” he said.
