Lawmakers Press Government on Implementation of NACS & Digital Reform, Highlight Gig Worker Protection

KUALA LUMPUR, El Sky News — Members of Parliament raised pressing questions in the Dewan Rakyat today, urging the government to clarify the progress and execution of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028, with particular focus on digital reform and social protection for gig workers.

NACS Under Scrutiny: Digital Reform as a Core Pillar

Lawmakers pointed out that while NACS is built on five major pillars education, public accountability, public participation, enforcement, and incentives the on-ground progress of several components remains unclear. They stressed that digital reform must be at the heart of NACS if Malaysia intends to tackle corruption effectively in the digital age.

MPs emphasised the need for stronger integration of digital technologies in anti-corruption monitoring systems, including real-time dashboards, transparent online reporting tools, and automated evaluation systems. According to them, such measures are essential to ensure transparency and build public trust in government initiatives.

Gig Economy Highlighted as Key Area for Digital-Social Reform

Several MPs used the gig economy as a concrete example of how NACS must connect with digital-era labour issues. They argued that corruption, governance gaps, and lack of regulation in digital platforms can indirectly harm gig workers, making stronger oversight essential.

Key issues raised in the Dewan Rakyat included:

• Lack of a clear legal definition for “gig worker”
  MPs argued that the absence of a precise legal definition continues to complicate worker rights, enforcement, and platform accountability.
• Gig Workers’ Bill 2025
  Though passed in August 2025, lawmakers urged the government to accelerate its implementation, especially the mechanisms involving social protection and platform responsibility.
• PERKESO contributions
  MPs pressed the Minister of Human Resources to ensure a streamlined and compulsory contribution structure so that gig workers receive adequate social safety coverage.

Concerns Over Execution and Transparency

Some MPs warned that without strict monitoring, NACS risks becoming a symbolic policy document with limited practical impact. They demanded that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) fully utilise digital mechanisms for tracking agency performance, reporting progress, and sharing updates with the public.

They also highlighted ongoing challenges in the gig sector, such as inconsistent income, unfair platform terms, lack of formal grievance channels, and safety concerns calling on the government to link these issues to broader governance and anti-corruption frameworks under NACS.

Parliamentary Expectations

By raising these questions today, lawmakers aim to reinforce the message that NACS must not function in isolation, but should be embedded within Malaysia’s broader digital and social reform agenda. MPs hope the government will:

1. Integrate digital monitoring tools to track NACS implementation with full public transparency.
2. Align NACS with labour and platform reforms, especially those affecting gig workers.
3. Provide regular parliamentary updates on the status of NACS substrategies, including measurable indicators and digital reporting outputs