KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — Malaysia’s single-rung climb in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reveals Putrajaya’s lack of political will in eradicating graft, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

The opposition leader (picture) pointed out that, despite announcing a multitude of government programmes targeting corruption, Malaysia only managed to place 53rd in the CPI 2013 rank. Singapore was fifth while Brunei came in at 38th in the same survey of 177 countries that measured perceptions of corruption in the public sector.

“It is clear that there is no political will and determination from the government to go all out in combating the pervasive problem of corruption and bribery,” said Anwar in a statement on International Anti-Corruption Day today.

“The government needs to double its efforts in fighting corruption and bribery at all levels and in all forms,” added the PKR de facto leader.

Transparency-International Malaysia (TI-M) said last Tuesday that the level of graft in Malaysia has not significantly decreased.

The anti-graft watchdog has also expressed concerns on selective non-investigation and non-persecution, noting the lack convictions in high-profile cases.

TI-M was also concerned with the lack of public disclosure of assets and income, together with possible corruption in political financing in either party or general elections.