KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Sirim, a leading industrial technology and quality organisation, has embarked on an exercise of verification audit in preparation for being certified under the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) based on the MS ISO 37001: 2016 standard.
President and group chief executive Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzil Mohamad Hani said that ABMS is a zero-tolerance approach against all forms of bribery and corruption, in all its business dealings and relationships.
He said Sirim’s board and management are committed to implementing and enforcing effective policies and procedures throughout Sirim for the prevention, monitoring and elimination of any form of bribery and corrupt practice amongst all employees and within the organisation’s activities, which include relationships with stakeholders.
“By implementing and obtaining the ABMS certification from a third-party certification body (CB), it is evidence that Sirim has put in place adequate procedures,” he said at the opening of the ABMS verification audit here, today. The two-week verification audit is from November 4-18, 2020.
ISO 37001 ABMS is designed to help companies prevent, detect and respond to bribery incidences. The standard also includes compliance to laws, regulations and other voluntary commitments.
The certification includes requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an anti-bribery management system. It is a universal standard applicable to organisations of any size or in any sector, either independently or integrated into an existing quality management system.
In addition, he said Sirim has put in place adequate procedures based on the T.R.U.S.T principles to prevent, detect, and respond to the occurrence of corrupt practices in relation to its business.
The T.R.U.S.T principles are based on Top level commitment, Risk assessment, Undertake control measures, Systematic review, monitoring and enforcement; and Training and communication.
“Currently, Sirim QAS International is the only accredited CB for ABMS in Malaysia.
“However, since Sirim QAS International is our subsidiary, it is not appropriate for it to certify Sirim. This is to ensure independence of the certification. This ABMS verification audit by Sirim QAS International will prepare Sirim for the audit by a third-party certification body next year,” he added.
Meanwhile, bribery is one of the significant risks faced by organisations of all sizes, sectors and business natures. The act often results in the loss of customers’ confidence, negative backlash and subsequently, may lead to the organisation’s closure.
The corporate liability provision under the new Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) (Amendment) Act 2018 has been enforced by the government, effective June 1, 2020.
With the enforcement of the Act, company directors and senior management will be held personally liable for acts of corruption committed by the company, either by their own personnel or by parties acting on behalf of the organisation.
If found guilty, Section 17A imposes a heavy penalty of, a fine not less than 10 times the value of the gratification or RM1 million, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, or both.
However, commercial organisations can present the defence of having “adequate procedures” in place, to prove the necessary measures are taken to prevent the incidence occurring and therefore those in charge should not be held liable.
— Bernama
