KUALA LUMPUR – For Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, the newly appointed president and CEO of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), the road to restoring national integrity begins with a hard reality: rebuilding public trust is a major challenge.
“A lack of trust severely hampers the ability of any institution to operate effectively,” he said.
In his first interview as IIM head with the New Straits Times, Ramdzan — who took office on July 23 — emphasized that public confidence in institutions cannot be built on slogans or regulations alone.
With over 38 years in the police force, including as director of the Special Branch, Ramdzan offers a grounded, practitioner’s perspective to an institute often viewed as merely symbolic.
“The government is serious about strengthening integrity, and we’re working to reinforce it at every level,” he said, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and the IIM board for their confidence in him.
He stressed that true public service requires more than performing official duties. “Yes, an officer must enforce the law and fight crime — but what people really want is to see officers who are present, engaged, and helpful, even in small daily interactions,” he said.
Ramdzan is now prioritising integrity education from an early age. IIM is developing a preschool integrity module, set to be piloted next year.
“We’re collaborating with various ministries, government agencies, and NGOs to create this module for nurseries and preschools. Once approved, it will serve as a national guideline,” he explained.
IIM also runs the Integrity Youth Assembly (IYA) programme, aimed at students aged 16 and above who show leadership potential. The initiative offers training, mentorship, and hands-on engagement to foster ethics, civic responsibility, and good governance.
“If we don’t teach integrity from a young age, it’s unrealistic to expect people to understand its value later on,” said Ramdzan.
He believes integrity-building goes beyond policies or institutions — it must involve society as a whole. He highlighted past cases of abuse, including one where a child was saved only because neighbours spoke up.
“If the neighbours had stayed silent, that child might not have made it. Everyone has a role to play in creating a culture of integrity — it’s not just the government’s responsibility,” he said.
