PUTRAJAYA must stop awarding contracts via direct negotiations and accepting support letters for contract bidders to move up on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Transparency International Malaysia (TIM) president Dr Muhammad Mohan said today.

Such practices should only be used in cases of emergency but cannot serve as standard practice, he said today after announcing Malaysia’s improved placing at 51st among 180 countries, with a score of 53 points, on the 2019 CPI.

“There are certain instances where you may award a contract to one source, for example in a state of an emergency when the public needs immediate help like flood or fire. It would not make sense to tender it as people are suffering.

“Or it could be a kind of project where only one source (of expertise) is available. Otherwise it is not justified,” Muhammad said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that TIM does not support the practice of politicians or government officials issuing support letters for the contract bidders.

“Some ministers give support letters. TI does not support this kind of thing. This must stop because if you continue the practice, what is the difference between you and the previous regime?”

Muhammad said Malaysia’s improved CPI ranking is in part, due to the government’s swift action to address scandals involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, SRC International Sdn Bhd, Felda, and Lembaga Tabung Haji.

He said it was possible for Malaysia to be ranked in the top 30 countries on the index in a few years, provided all segments of society did their part to reject corruption.

“The government has to do its part, civil servants have to do their part, as do civil societies. The media also has to do its part by not being afraid to report wrongdoing.” – January 23, 2020.