Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's Integrity Unit has reported a total of 42 integrity-related complaints involving its officers and personnel as of May. Its director-general, Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, revealed that the majority of complaints pertain to misconduct, with 22 cases, followed by power abuse (eight), sexual harassment or scandal (four), enforcement issues (four), corruption (three), and misappropriation (one).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nor Hisham elaborated that the misconduct cases included various categories, such as five related to disciplinary issues, three cases of domestic violence, three involving social media misuse, two cases each of lavish lifestyle, fraud, and loan issues, as well as one case each of vandalism and negligence in duty, with three falling under other categories. He shared that although the department received 42 integrity-related complaints, they view these reports positively as a preventative measure against future misconduct. Notably, the department has observed a significant reduction in disciplinary actions this year, with only 13 cases recorded compared to 55 in the previous year.

Nor Hisham addressed reporters after officiating a talk on governance, integrity, and anti-corruption at the Kelantan National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Complex in Tanjung Chat, an event also attended by Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan. He further mentioned that out of the 13 disciplinary actions recorded this year, 11 were due to absence from duty, marking a shift from previous years when drug abuse was the most prevalent offence among officers and personnel.

The director-general noted an increase in complaints filed through the e-aduan portal and the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA), with 95 cases last year compared to 87 in 2023. Of these, 60 per cent were internal complaints, while the remaining 40 per cent were from the public. He assured that appropriate actions have been taken on all issues raised.