scholarly journals An Empirical Assessment of Employee Integrity in the Public Sector of Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Razana Juhaida Johari ◽  
Jamaliah Said

Purpose - Integrity is a critical issue as it could lead to failures in governance, fraud, inefficacy, corruption, as well as weak financial management particularly in the public sector. At present, the public sector is a matter of global concern due the constant cases of failures in governance, fraud, inefficacy, and corruption. As such, this sector has been pressurized to provide justification of the sources and usages of public resources and to improve their service performance as the public has the right to monitor the public sector management’s transparency and efficacy. This study evaluates the state of present integrity practices among public sector employees from various Malaysian service schemes.Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were collected using a questionnaire survey approach with 194 heads of departments in the Malaysian federal ministries. The collection of data was according to the perspective of 13 factors in integrity practices using a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis and descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. In addition, data reliability was checked by Cronbach’s alpha test, data normality was examined by Skewness and Kurtosis tests, and data validity was tested by using Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test and Barlett’s test.Findings - The findings show that 92.6% of the participants reported that they practised integrity within their departments. Nevertheless, the priority for these integrity factors varies according to the service schemes. In general, the departments of finance, audits, and administration had an above average integrity practice level however the practice of the accounting scheme is below the general average level.Practical/Policy implications - This findings of the study will help policy makers to take necessary steps to improve the practices of integrity in the public sector in order to create a more dependable and efficient public sector in Malaysia.Originality/value – This is an original study based on primary data that assesses the performance of practicing integrity in the public sector of Malaysia.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamaliah Said ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Razana Juhaida Johari

Ensuring accountability in the public sector is a very crucial issue as it could lead to failures in governance, fraud, inefficacy, corruption as well as weak financial management. This study evaluated the state of present accountability practices among public sector employees from various Malaysian service schemes. Primary data were collected, using a questionnaire survey approach with 194 heads of departments in the Malaysian federal ministries. Data was collected in accordance with the perspective of 12 factors in accountability practices, using a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis and descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. In addition, data reliability was checked by Cronbach’s alpha test; data normality was examined by Skewness and Kurtosis tests, and data validity was tested by using Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test and Barlett’s test. The findings show that 94.9% of the participants reported that they practised accountability within their departments. Nevertheless, the priority for these accountability factors varied according to the service schemes. In general, the perceived accountability practice was the highest within the group of the administrative scheme and the lowest among the employees under the accounting scheme. Moreover, the perceived accountability practice of the audit scheme was below the general average level. This findings of the study would help policy makers to take necessary steps to improve the practices of accountability in the public sector for creating a more dependable and efficient public sector in Malaysia.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razana Juhaida Johari ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Jamaliah Said

At present, the public sector is a matter of global concern due to the constant cases of failures in governance, fraud, inefficacy, and corruption. Management commitment is a critical issue as lack of it could lead to failures in governance, fraud, inefficacy, corruption as well as weak financial management, particularly in the public sector. This study evaluated the state of present practices of management commitment among public sector employees from various Malaysian service schemes. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire survey approach with 194 heads of departments in the Malaysian federal ministries. The collection of data was in accordance with the perspective of 10 factors in management commitment practices, using a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis and descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. In addition, data reliability was checked by Cronbach’s alpha test, data normality was examined by Skewness and Kurtosis tests, and data validity was tested by using Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test and Barlett’s test. The findings show that 97% of the participants reported that they practised management commitment within their departments. Nevertheless, the priority for these management commitment factors varied according to the service schemes. In general, management commitment practice was the highest within the groups that used the finance scheme and the lowest among the employees who were under the accounting and audit schemes. The result of the study will help policy makers to take necessary steps to improve the practices of management commitment in the public sector in order to create a more dependable and efficient public sector in Malaysia.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maizatul Akmar Khalid ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Jamaliah Said

To improve the trust of citizens and delivery of services, employing good governance principles in the public sector is very crucial. Despite efforts to improve service delivery, criticisms and complains toward public services remain evident. This study aims to assess the status of good governance practices in the public sector of Malaysia. Primary data were collected from the responses of 109 department heads under 24 federal ministries to a survey questionnaire. Respondent perception of good governance practices was measured using a seven-point Likert scale and analyzed by descriptive statistics and path measurement modeling. Standard diagnostic tests were also conducted to check the reliability of the data and model. Results indicated that nine factors were significant in the measurement of good governance practices. However, very few people in the public sector of Malaysia practice fraud control, which is at the lowest intensity. Among the service groups, the engineer group practiced good governance at the highest level, whereas the health service group practiced good governance at the lowest level. Therefore, still there are scopes available to improve good governance systems to become more reliable and efficient public sector in Malaysia. Findings of the study will help policy makers improve the efficiency of the public sector of Malaysia and other countries.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Micah Odhiambo Nyamita ◽  
Elijah Wanamboe Wekesa

<em>Practical concerns relating to successful public financial management ultimately determines whether or not there is good governance at all public sector institutions</em><em>. Although there is growing literature on national public financial management in general, the researchers feel that less attention has been focused on the financial management reforms in Kenya. This paper, therefore, reviewed literature on public sector financial management reforms in Kenya, starting with the current economic status in Kenya. The exceptionality of this paper was the use of a significant body of literature focusing on 15 articles concerning the public sector financial management reforms and economic status in Kenya. The findings could assist in creating awareness on the main themes of public sector financial management reforms within the Kenyan public sector and help the national policy makers to develop measures of enhancing performance within the sector.</em>


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Razana Juhaida Johari ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Jamaliah Said

PurposeIntegrity-related issues are now endemic to public service bureaucracies. It is claimed that corruption in the public sector is very common in various departments/agencies. Lack of integrity will lead to failings in governance and proper oversight of procedures, and subsequently poor financial management and incidents of fraud. Based on the stakeholder theory perspective, this study examines the influences of accountability, risk management and managerial commitment on practices of integrity in the Malaysian public sector.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected through both printed and online questionnaires given to 210 department heads operating within selected Malaysian federal ministries. Data were analysed via the partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach to examine the research hypotheses.FindingsIt is evident that integrity practices in Malaysia's public sector are statistically significantly related to risk management, accountability and management commitment.Practical implicationsThe findings will help the Malaysian federal ministries to take the necessary steps to improve integrity so that dependability and efficiency are the hallmarks of public sector services.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine the role of accountability, risk management and managerial commitment to integrity in the public sector of a developing market economy.


Accounting ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1109-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Ismaili ◽  
Hysen Ismajli ◽  
Nexhmie Berisha Vokshi

This paper aims to determine the importance and challenges of the reform and transition towards the International Public Sector Accounting Standards’ (IPSASs’) accrual accounting and its implementation in the public sector in Kosovo. A survey obtained primary data from a considerable representative sample of officials from budget organizations and institutions and members of publicly owned enterprises (POEs) and professional societies. The study analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics, correlation and the Chi-Square and Kruskal–Wallis H tests. The reform contributes significantly to a better decision-making process and the use of public funds. It reflects the true long-term implications of policy decisions and therefore helps governments demonstrate accountability in the use of public funds. Despite the identified challenges, the study justifies the suggested reform in Kosovo. The findings emphasize its importance for improving accountability, transparency and financial management and building public confidence in information and the country’s macro-fiscal sustainability position.


1986 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Williams ◽  
J. Sewel ◽  
F. Twine

ABSTRACTIt has been argued that council house sales will contribute towards a more general process of residualization of public sector housing. Empirical evidence is presented in this context derived from surveys of purchasers and non-purchasers of council dwellings in the city of Aberdeen. This evidence confirms that purchasers and non-purchasers exhibit different socio-economic characteristics and after only four years of the Right to Buy legislation significant numbers of households in social classes I, II and III have left the public sector via the mechanism of sales. The small number of sales relative to the stock as a whole, however, has meant that the overall contribution of sales towards residualization has been small. This evidence from Aberdeen is compared to evidence from elsewhere and related to the varying pattern of sales across the country as a whole.


Author(s):  
Manasseh M. Mokgolo ◽  
Patricia Mokgolo ◽  
Mike Modiba

Orientation: The implementation of transformational leadership in public services after national elections has been well recorded in other parts of the world. However, this is not the case in South Africa. Research purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine whether transformational leadership has a beneficial relationship with subordinate leadership acceptance, job performance and job satisfaction.Motivation for the study: Leadership is a critical issue that the public sector needs to address in order to survive and succeed in today’s unstable environment. According to Groenewald and Ashfield (2008), transformational leadership could reduce the effects of uncertainty and change that comes with new leaders and help employees to achieve their objectives.Research design, approach and method: The sample comprised 1050 full-time employees in the public sector based in head offices. The measuring instruments included the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), the Leadership Acceptance Scale (LAS), the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and the Job Performance Survey (JPS).Main findings: Transformational leadership had a positive correlation with subordinate leadership acceptance, performance and job satisfaction.Practical/managerial implications: Managers can train public sector leaders to be transformational leaders because of the adverse effect lack of transformation can have on employees’ attitudes in areas like satisfaction, performance and commitment.Contribution/value-add: This study makes an important contribution to our understanding of transformational leadership processes and to how the public service can improve its practices in order to render quality service to South Africans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
K B Ravindra

The importance of Labour Welfare in Industrialisation and Economic Development has been recognized globally. It is an important dimension in Industrial Relations, which includes overall welfare facilities designed to take care of well being of Employees and Workers. During the 1990s, the measures of economic reforms introduced in the country have given rise to a wave of rapid and radical changes in the structure and working of our economy. Globalization, Liberalisation, Privatisation, etc. have completely changed the functioning of the Indian Economy and forced the employees, workers, and their organizations to adapt and adjust by reorienting their ways to survive and thrive amidst the forces of change and competition. The aspect of Labour Welfare and Social Security has tremendous significance in the Public Sector, Private Sector and Multinational Organisations. It is firmly believed that money and environment given to employees is a long term investment and will never go waste. Against this backdrop, a detailed study has been conducted at Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, Bengaluru, a Public Sector Organisation. Primary data collected through a Structured Questionnaire from 100 respondents covering all levels and departments has revealed that most of the Labour Welfare and Social Security provisions are being satisfactorily provided by the company to its employees and workers. It is suggested that the company carefully look into those areas where employees/workers have expressed dissatisfaction. The article concludes by stating that if an organisation provides good welfare and social security benefits, then it will be able to procure and develop a unique pool of people who can continuously take the organization to new levels of growth and sustainability.


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