Monday 12 December, Kuala Lumpur-Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) congratulates the Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Unity Government on the formation of the new cabinet. As they begin their term in office, TI-M is encouraged by the announcements thus far to strengthen public sector governance, such as the requirement for competitive bidding in procurement and the review of certain high value projects.
To monitor the performance of the new government, we urge the Prime Minister to ensure all ministers and their deputies are given clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to achieve. These KPIs help provide clear guidance on the objectives of the government and provides a means to assess their performance. As they work towards meeting their KPIs, it is vital that their progress and achievements are reported to the rakyat in a timely and transparent manner. This “Report Card” is in line with the Unity Government’s stated aim to be transparent, practice good governance, eradicate corruption and demonstrate accountability.
TI-M believes that the Unity Government should be given time to identify and prioritise its commitments to the rakyat. As such presently we will not suggest targets and timelines for the KPIs. We however strongly urge the government of YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to refer to the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) which is an apolitical document that was formulated in 2019 by the then Pakatan Harapan government and largely endorsed by subsequent governments. The NACP provides clear guidance and indicators on initiatives to improve governance and integrity practice at the national level.
The culture of transparency and being accountable does not require any grace period – it should be practiced immediately. This is what the rakyat expects and our country needs to address its various challenges and reset itself. TI-M’s President Muhammad Mohan gives his assurance that TI-M will support the Prime Minister in ensuring that all ministers and deputies in his Unity Government practice this culture. Anyone who fails to meet these standards should be replaced.
TI-M remains committed to engaging with the Unity Government of YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the area of governance and integrity. We will continue to play our role as a responsible member of civil society, offering our support and constructive alternatives where necessary for the benefit of our country.
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Note to Editors: For clarification on any and all official statements from Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M), kindly refer to its President, Dr Muhammad Mohan (mmohan@transparency.org.my)
