MALAYSIA dropped five places in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2021, placing it at 62 out of 180 countries ranked on the level of public sector corruption.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Dr Muhammad Mohan said Malaysia scored 48 out of 100 points in the index, compared to its 2020 score of 51.

He said that in 2020 the country ranked 57, while in 2019 it was placed at 51. The ranking of 100 means very clean, while zero means highly corrupt.

Mohan blamed stalled institutional reforms as one of the reasons why Malaysia fell in the corruption perception index for a second year in a row.

The other reasons, he said, were the very limited action from the current and previous governments to curb political corruption and strengthen human rights records.

“For instance, the Political Financing Act, which was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament by the last two governments, has yet to be realised.  

“Also, the draft Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill was revised to an ineffective version renamed the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill.

“Tragic custodial deaths still occur in police lock-ups even after an RCI (royal commission of inquiry) was conducted in 2015,” he said during the announcement of the 2021 CPI.

Mohan also said that there was lack of political will to reform the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission into a truly independent anti-corruption institution accountable to Parliament as proposed by civil societies in 2015.  

The other issues, Mohan said, was the discharge not amounting to acquittal of high-profile personalities in corruption cases, and continued lack of political will from various administrations in fighting corruption.

“Appointments of politicians without experience to head government-linked companies, government procurement bill yet to be tabled in Parliament.

“Lack of progress in amendments to the Whistle-blowers Protection Act 2010 and adverse findings and government failures observed in the auditor-general annual report.

“Lack of action against public officials who have abused their positions.”

Mohan, however, said there were positive developments such as the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan last year.

This, he said, includes reducing the minimum voting age to 18 and automatic voter registration and the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

Mohan also said that it is crucial that the anti-party hopping law is tabled in Parliament.

“Anti-hopping law is badly needed because we can’t simply have lawmakers jumping (to other parties) every few years.

“There are also parliamentary reforms and reducing the tenure of a prime minister to 10 years.”

In the international corruption index released today, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were tied at the top spot with a score of 88, followed by Norway with 85 points.

Malaysia’s neighbour Singapore ranked fifth with 85 points, making it the only Asian country in the top 10 of the CPI table.

In Southeast Asia, Malaysia is in third place behind Singapore and Brunei. Among the Islamic countries, Malaysia is ranked sixth, behind UAE, Qatar, Brunei, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Mohan said TI-M’s recommendations are to narrow the scope of the Official Secrets Act so that matters of public interest such as directly negotiated contracts can be released and matters of national security are protected.

“Share information transparently including uploading data on all public contracts and provide regular updates on the status of high-profile cases.

“Monitor implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan and disclose progress on the 115 initiatives.”

He also said the chief secretary to the government should be responsible for the public service role in the successful implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan.

“Adopt international standards of integrity in government procurement for transparency and good governance. Latest government circular failed to address this issue.

“Improve the power and independence of the enforcement agency integrity commission.”

Mohan also added that the government must reform MACC to make it fully independent and report to Parliament.

“This will require amendments to the MACC Act and the Federal Constitution.” – January 25, 2022.