ADS 404 Chapter 5

ETHICS IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
a.lokman/ads404/Sept2019
▪ At the end of the chapter, student
should be able to
Learning ▪ Explain ethics.

▪ Discuss the importance of ethics in
outcomes Malaysian public service.
▪ Identify Malaysian ethics initiatives.
Introduction
Ethics is derived from an ancient Greek word, ethos, which

means habit or custom.
Ethics is known as a moral philosophy.
It asks the questions of ‘what is the best way to live’ and ‘what
actions are right & wrong in particular circumstances’.
It directs & guides human actions according to ultimate

principles discovered by human reason.
DEFINITION
Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the

questions of what is right, wrong, good and bad
(Frankena, 1963)
Ethics is a science that relies on human reason

to discover standards of conduct or morality that
apply to all human beings ( Sheeran, 1993)
▪ Objectivist (Deontological theory)
▪ Looks for objective, ultimate or absolute
standards or criteria to assess the right &
wrong of human actions.
▪ ‘What ought to be’
▪ Interpretivist (Teleological theory)
APPROACHES
▪ No absolute standards for assessing right TO ETHICS
and wrong.
▪ Individual judgments in particular is the
only criterion for what is right & wrong
▪ ‘How people actually act’
Personal morality
• Basic right & wrong

(conscience)
• Parental influence,
religion, culture,
LEVELS OF education
ETHICS
Professional ethics
• Set of professional
norms and rules
obligated officials to act
professionally
Organizational ethics
• How an organization
responds to internal &
external stimulus
• Express the values of an
organization to its
LEVELS OF employee and other
ETHICS entities
Social ethics
• Moral principles that
represent the collective
experience of people and
culture
▪ PA deals with decisions that;
▪ Affect people’s lives
▪ Made in the name of public
▪ Use public resources
▪ Therefore ethics is important because
it;
IMPORTANCE OF ▪ Provides an accountability framework

between public and administration
ETHICS ▪ Ensures that public get a fair share in the
distribution of resources
▪ Gives a guideline to integrity in the work
operation
▪ Encourages good communication
between the public and administration
▪ Fosters trust of the public
▪ Consequently, lack of ethical practice
leads to;
▪ Lower public trust
▪ Non collection of taxes
IMPORTANCE OF ▪ Lower foreign investment
ETHICS ▪ Endanger the environment
▪ Bad image of the government
SOURCES OF ETHICAL GUIDANCE
Rules &
Laws Conscience Religion
regulations
• Natural & • Code of • Conformity • Faith in
civil ethics & to one’s own which an
code of sense of individual
conduct right strongly
conduct belief in
An index created by
Transparency International
CPI defines corruption as ‘the

misuse of public power for
private benefits’(CPI, 2010)
Corruption
Perception A measure on how corrupt
Index (CPI) public sectors of a country a
seen to be.
The index annually ranked

countries base on the
perceived levels of corruption.
Year Rank/ Score
2012 54 (174)/ 49
2013 53 (177)/ 50
Malaysia’s 2014 50 (175)/ 52
ranking in CPI 2015 54 (168)/ 50
2016 55 (176)/ 49
2017 62 (180)/ 47
Source: http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview
▪ Starting in the 1980’s with
▪ Bersih, Cekap, Amanah
▪ Integration of Islamic values
MALAYSIAN ▪ Excellent work culture
ETHICS ▪ Code of ethics
INITIATIVES ▪ Clients’ Charter

▪ ISO 9000
▪ 1990’s
▪ 12 Pillars (Tonggak 12)
MALAYSIAN ▪ Malaysia Incorporated
ETHICS
INITIATIVES
▪ The 21st century
▪ Values – 6 core values (fairness, wisdom,
trustworthy, truth, transparency &
gratitude)
MALAYSIAN ▪ National Integrity Plan
ETHICS ▪ Integrity Management

▪ Committee on Integrity Governance
INITIATIVES ▪ Certified Integrity Officer Program
▪ Integrity Unit in Federal & State
government agencies
▪ ACA became MACC in 2009
▪ Government Transformation Program
(GTP)
▪ National Key Results Areas (NKRA)-
MALAYSIAN combating bribery in public service
▪ Whistleblower Act 2010
ETHICS ▪ Online name & shame
INITIATIVES ▪ Integrity Pledge
▪ Public Service Ethos
▪ Values to be held in public task and duty
execution
▪ National Centre for Governance,
Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC)
– coordinates all activities related to
MALAYSIAN governance, integrity and combating
graft
ETHICS ▪ National Anti-Corruption Plan
INITIATIVES (NACP)establish in January, 2019
replacing the National Integrity Plan
(NIP)

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ETHICS IN PUBLIC

Learning ▪ Explain ethics.

Ethics is derived from an ancient Greek word, ethos, which

Ethics is known as a moral philosophy.

It directs & guides human actions according to ultimate

Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the

Ethics is a science that relies on human reason

• Basic right & wrong

IMPORTANCE OF ▪ Provides an accountability framework

CPI defines corruption as ‘the

The index annually ranked

Malaysia’s 2014 50 (175)/ 52

ranking in CPI 2015 54 (168)/ 50

INITIATIVES ▪ Clients’ Charter

ETHICS ▪ Integrity Management

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