PUTRAJAYA should enact a Ministerial Code of Conduct in order to keep Cabinet members in check and ensure they follow basic protocols while holding public office.
“According to the Institute for Government, a UK-based think
tank, the Ministerial Code is a set of rules and principles which outline the
standards of conduct for Government ministers.
“The codes include the ‘overarching duty’ of ministers to
comply with law and abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life, a set of ethical
standards which apply to all holders of public office.
“The UK Ministerial Code was last updated in August
2019. Do we have such a code for our
ministers? If not, we can adopt the UK Ministerial Code with appropriate
modifications, to meet local conditions,” HELP University Faculty of Business,
Economics and Accounting and Institute Crime and Criminology senior lecturer R
Paneir Selvam told FocusM.
On Saturday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed apologised for flouting COVID-19 standard operating
procedure (SOP) for dining-in at a coffee shop in Jeli, Kelantan recently.
Mustapa was not the only minister accused of breaching SOP,
as Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali was accused
of travelling to Kemaman, Terengganu last month, despite interstate travels
being barred.
Others claimed to have breached SOP include International
Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Kedah Menteri
Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Citing the UK as an example, Paneir Selvam said that its
Secretary for Health Matt Hancock resigned on Saturday after a video surfaced
showing him breaking social distancing guidelines during lockdown.
“Even though UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted his
explanation and allowed him to resume duties, the pressure from within and
outside his party forced Hancock to leave,” he said.
Gov’t leaders owe it to the public, Agong
On Mustapa’s case, while it was commendable that former had
apologised for it, the academic said those holding public office must lead by
example and follow rules they themselves have written.
“For example, if a parent smokes a cigarette in front of his
child and later tells the kid that smoking is hazardous to health, obviously
the child will not listen.
“The country’s leaders must act like parents and provide a
good example for citizens to follow.
“Plus, they also bear moral responsibilities as a result of
the oath they took before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Paneir Selvam mentioned.
Making matters worse, he said many VIPs who flouted SOP in
the past have used many excuses to justify their actions, triggering public
outcry as they only received a slap on the wrist.
“But ordinary people were harshly penalised for breaching
SOP. The rakyat will perceive this as unjust and later pour
scorn on the legitimacy of the SOP,” Panier Selvam cautioned.
Such attitude, he added, was alarming as adherence to SOP was
crucial to reduce skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases in the country,
triggering many to lose jobs and incomes.
“According to reports, there is an increase in suicide cases
during this difficult period and many are burdened by rising unemployment, debt
and family stress.
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