Rebuilding public trust is key, says new integrity institute chief [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: For the newly appointed Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) president and chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, the fight for national integrity begins with an uncomfortable truth — rebuilding public trust is no small feat.

Lack of trust, he said, makes it extremely difficult for any institution to function effectively.

Speaking to the New Straits Times in his first interview as IIM head, Ramdzan, who joined the institute on July 23, said public confidence in the system hinged on more than just slogans or regulatory targets.

With more than 38 years’ experience in the police force, including as Special Branch director, he brings a practitioner’s lens to an institute often dismissed as symbolic.

“The government is serious about integrity, and we’re trying to strengthen it across the board,” he said, thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and the IIM board for placing their trust in him.

“It’s about meaningful service delivery. As an officer, yes, you have your core responsibilities — fighting crime, upholding the law. But what the public wants to see is more than that.

“They want to see officers go the extra mile. Present, engaged and willing to help even in small, everyday situations,” he said.

Today, Ramdzan is focused on embedding integrity education from the earliest stages, with a dedicated preschool module currently in development and set for pilot implementation next year.

“We (IIM) are working with multiple ministries, government agencies and relevant non-governmental organisations, developing a module for nurseries and preschools. Once finalised and approved, it will be used as a national guideline,” he said.

This initiative complements the institute’s Integrity Youth Ambassador (IYA) programme launched in 2024 — a strategic effort to cultivate integrity-driven leadership among youth.

Targeted at students aged 16 and above with demonstrated leadership potential, the IYA programme offers a platform for the students to become positive change agents through structured training, mentorship and community-based engagement in ethics, good governance and civic responsibility.

“If you don’t start instilling integrity early, you can’t expect people to grasp its meaning later in life,” Ramdzan said.

Beyond policy reforms and institutional safeguards, he said, building integrity must be a whole-of-society effort.

He cited past abuse cases, including one involving a child, that only came to light because of concerned neighbours.

“If the neighbours hadn’t spoken up, that child might not have survived. Everyone plays a role in building a culture of integrity; it’s not just the government.”

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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