Kuala Lampur:A record 568 public officers were arrested for corruption in 2024, raising significant concerns about the integrity of the country's public administration. This statistic represents the highest number of such arrests to date.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz highlighted that the integrity crisis is a key structural issue that needs to be addressed to strengthen public service. He identified inconsistent law enforcement, weaknesses in procurement procedures, and the persistence of a 'backdoor' mentality and 'Little Napoleon' practices as contributing factors.

During an Adjunct Professor Inaugural Lecture at Dewan Tuanku Canselor Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Wan Ahmad Dahlan emphasized that these integrity issues are among the main constraints affecting Malaysia's public administration, alongside resistance to change, a silo mentality, and systemic weaknesses.

He also expressed concern over the state of corruption within the public service and stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to improve governance. Wan Ahmad Dahlan remains optimistic that with determination, the prevalence of corrupt practices can be reduced over time.