KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Cutting out corruption is not the only cure for Malaysia’s problems, Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala said today.

Idris, who also heads the government’s efficiency unit Pemandu, pointed out that Putrajaya spends RM40 billion annually on “subsidies alone” — far more than the possible RM8 billion that he said could be saved from combating corruption.

“But can’t say that’s the only panacea,” he said of the government’s anti-corruption measures at the Invest Malaysia event here.

While agreeing that Malaysia needs to fight graft, minister in the Prime Minister’s Department indicated it would be inaccurate to say that the removal of graft would solve Malaysia’s problems.

He did not elaborate on the problems that ailed the country.

Idris, the leader of the government unit tasked with the country’s transformation programme, had referred to the RM251.6 billion earmarked for Putrajaya’s Budget 2014.

Out of this figure, some of the budget fell under subsidies and pensions which were not vulnerable to corruption, while even a potential 10 per cent saving from any possible corruption over RM85 billion would only amount to RM8 billion, he said.

He was addressing claims regularly made by politicians from federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that corruption was one of the biggest problems in Malaysia.

He also spoke about the government’s efforts in fighting graft, which he categorised as “regulatory” corruption, corruption involving procurement and PR’s claims about corruption.

He said the government’s efforts in curbing bribery for permits or approval according to government regulations could be seen in Malaysia’s improved position in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, where the country is globally ranked as the sixth.

Putrajaya has also increased its scrutiny of government procurement, with Idris pointing out that the Auditor-General’s Report is now tabled in Parliament three times each year while secretary-generals of ministries with poor results have to meet the media and explain to the public.