It’s a breach of work ethics to FB at work, not graft

PUTRAJAYA: Surfing on social media sites or engaging in personal matters during work hours is a breach of work ethics, not a form of corruption.

In clarifying a statement attributed to her name in media reports recently, MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Sutinah Sutan said she did not say that Facebooking during office hours was a form of graft.

Instead, Sutinah said engaging in personal tasks during work hours was an act of “curi tulang (shirking from official duties)” that went against good work principles.

“We know that corruption can manifest itself in many forms, such as in instances of conflict of interests and bribery.

“(But) to curi tulang is not a form of corruption. It’s a manifestation of a wrongdoing that violates ethics and work culture,” Sutinah said after witnessing the signing of the corporate integrity pledge by the Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan (Kesedar) here yesterday.

On Sunday, Sutinah was quoted in the news as saying that civil servants and staff of government-linked companies surfing on social media or engaging in personal matters during work hours might be categorised as having committed corruption.

Separately, on the corporate integrity pledge, Sutinah said 161 private and public sector organisations had signed and committed to the pact.

She reminded these companies to abide by the five principles of the pledge: to promote values of good governance and integrity; strengthen internal mechanisms against corruption; comply with the law to fight corruption; curb any form of graft; and support anti-graft initiatives mooted by the Government and MACC.

-thestar/maa.