by Rosli Mansor
The close cooperation between the mass media proved to be effective in conveying various information in fostering a spirit of unity among the community.
The Chief Officer of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), Norhayati Ahmad said strategic relations with the media are very important and necessary especially to reach out to various layers of society, especially in an effort to shape the public’s thinking about integrity.
“We believe that a close cooperative relationship should not only be established with regulatory enforcement agencies and public agencies, but should also be established with interested organisations and agencies such as the media and non-Government bodies.
“It is in line with the aspirations that EAIC have always held, which is ‘to work through others, with others’. Therefore, today’s ceremony is the best approach to strengthen EAIC’s collaboration with media practitioners.
“The EAIC will always be committed to providing cooperation to media partners so that we can channel accurate information in an effort to cultivate integrity not only among law enforcement officers and enforcement agencies but also the community,” she said when speaking at the Encouraging Responsibility Accountability Trustworthiness (ERAT) Bersama Media Council, at the Kinta Riverfront Hotel yesterday.
The EAIC functions as an enforcement agency integrity watchdog under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 (Act 700).
According to her, EAIC hopes to foster the sensitivity and concern of the media as the eyes and ears of the community on issues related to misconduct and abuse of power among law enforcement officers and enforcement agencies.
“As the single enforcement agency integrity monitoring body in this country, it is our responsibility to improve the public’s confidence and perception towards public services, especially enforcement officers and enforcement agencies.
“I often put emphasis on the objectives and goals of the EAIC which are often misinterpreted by the general public, especially the enforcement members themselves, that the establishment of the EAIC is not to find fault or expose the shame of an enforcement officer or an enforcement agency.
“On the contrary, the establishment of EAIC should actually be seen as a shield or medium to help enforcement agencies in strengthening integrity, as well as improving the quality of accountability and services of enforcement institutions in this country,” she said.
