Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) commends the Federal Government for recognising the worsening of perception of corruption and corruption’s cost to the nation of as much as RM10 billion per year, and for launching the National Key Result Area (NKRA) of fighting corruption. It is encouraging that KPI measures that are independent and internationally benchmarked, TI’s Corruption Perception Index and Global Corruption Barometer have been adopted. There are many encouraging proposals, such as tackling petty corruption at enforcement agencies and grand corruption by politicians and senior civil servants, whistleblower protection and reducing leakages in government procurement.
Additional steps that should be taken include strengthening the independence of MACC and other institutions that safeguard integrity and justice to assure that they act without fear or favour, prosecution of “big fish”, and implementation of open tenders and TI’s integrity pacts for public procurement. Reforms in political financing must not give unfair advantage or disadvantage to any party, and the government should ensure that its agencies and employees are apolitical.
TI-M reiterates the crucial importance of the political will of political and government leaders to fight corruption and instill a culture of zero-tolerance of corruption, and to do so by setting the tone and leading by example.
Issued by
Datuk Paul Low
President
Transparency International – Malaysia
