Chambers of commerce and business houses in the country will sign a declaration to promote integrity and corrupt free practices in business to increase the confidence of local and foreign investors on initiatives carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

MACC commissioner Sutinah Sutan said among presidents who would sign the undertaking are those of the Malay Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Of Malaysia (MAICCI), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).

Sutinah said the programme held in conjunction with World Anti-Corruption Day would see Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak witnessing the signing ceremony in Putrajaya.

"We want to ensure that businessmen in Malaysia are not involved in corrupt practices to show the foreign investors that investing in Malaysia will not incur any 'additional expenses'," Sutinah told reporters today.

The signed declaration will later be handed over to the prime minister.

Meanwhile, ACCCIM national council member Wong Pui Lam said they will disseminate what has been written in the pledge to all members, so that they too can understand the bad effects of corrupt practices in business.

Malay Chamber of Commerce deputy president Mohd Alayuddin Hasan said the chamber has been doing a lot of programmes to fight against corruption.

"Most of our members are Muslims. So they are well aware of the effects or the outcome of corrupt practices," he added.

Chief executive officer of FMM, Lee Cheng Suan, said they have also conducted various activities and programmes to create awareness, including publishing book on corruption, and distributing them to all members.

- Bernama