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PurposeThis study aims to assess the status of current practices of accountability and its relationship with the practices of integrity system, internal control system and leadership qualities in the public sector of Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected primary data from 109 departments and agencies under 24 federal ministries in Malaysia. The data were analysed under descriptive statistics, ordinal regression and structural equation modelling (SEM). Several diagnostic tests were conducted to check the validity and reliability of data and models, such as Cronbach alpha test, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test, Shapiro–Wilk test, internal consistency reliability, indicator reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity.FindingsThe regression and SEM results show that the practices of integrity system and leadership quality had statistically significant positive relationship, but the practice of internal control system showed mixed relationship with the practices of accountability.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study will help the policymakers to ensure better accountability in the public sector in Malaysia and other countries.Originality/valueThis is an original study based on primary data to examine the current practices of accountability and its relationship with the practices of integrity system, internal control system and leadership qualities in the public sector of Malaysia.