PUTRAJAYA, April 1 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that from Thursday, three additional steps will be implemented to enhance integrity and prevent corruption in government procurement.
He said all bidders would be required to sign the Bidder Declaration Letter while the successful bidder the Successful Bidder Declaration Letter.
Further, they would have to sign the agreement text which contains the Anti-Corruption Clause in Government Procurement, he said.
He said this measure was an additional initiative of the Finance Ministry that had already required an Integrity Pact clause to be included in all agreement texts relating to government procurement contracts from Feb 28, 2009.
"All the initiatives are taken to improve and strengthen the level of integrity and transparency of the goverment procurement system," he said after launching the Government Procurement Information Centre, My-Procurement, at the Finance Ministry here.
Najib, who is Finance Minister, told reporters that the special clause was the successful bidder's commitment and pledge, and if they failed to fulfil it action would be taken.
"It means that they have understood their responsibilities as the winner of a contract; the do's and don'ts," he said.
On My-Procurement, he said that through the portal, results of a tender would be posted within 14 days or earlier after the acceptance letter had been issued to the successful bidder.
Information on the portal will be upated on an hourly basis by the relevant ministries.
In a speech earlier, Najib said the portal's development was among the latest measures to enhance transparency and ensure uniformity in disseminating information relating to government procurement.
He said that through the website, the government would post various information relating to government procurement like tender advertisements and results, government procurement policy and procedure, and the Integrity Pact.
"As a start, the portal will post tender advertisements and tender results of all ministries from June last year until the latest," he said.
Najib said he hoped that with the portal, all parties would have accurate information n government procurement and have knowledge on the development and reform in government procurement.
"I would like to remind all Controllers to be committed to ensuring all information relating to their respective ministries' tender advertisements and results are constantly updated and uploaded into their websites," he said.
He said the information that had been uploaded must be quick and accurate to ensure integrity of the data so that no one would dispute the information that was posted for public knowledge.
Najib said the portal's development in a short period of time, namely five months earlier than scheduled, was in line with his previous call on the importance to make quick, good and accurate decisions.
He said this would increase people and market confidence in the government, which was very important to the Finance Ministry and agencies that are involved in national economic development.
"We must meet two main criteria, namely people's expectations and aspirations and market expectations through efforts carried out.
"If there is only one, our aim to become a developed and high-income country will not be achieveable," he said.
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