DECEMBER 6 — According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) table for 2014 prepared by the Malaysian chapter of Transparency International (TI-M), Malaysia has been ranked 50th among 175 countries this year, slightly improved from the 53rd out of 177 countries.

Higher scores means more incorruptible and Malaysia scored 50 points last year, and 52 points this year, ranking the 2nd highest among Asean countries, just behind Singapore, which was ranked 7th in the world. It indicated that our incorruptibility has improved.

The improvement in ranking reflected that the government’s transformation plans over the past four years have made some achievements, while proving that the active actions of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have been effective. It also showed that as long as the government and MACC are determined in curbing corruption, they can do better.

Although Malaysia has achieved the best CPI in 10 years, the country’s rankings have remained at the middle level over the past 10 years. It showed that even though the government has implemented transformation plans and measures like National Key Results Areas (NKRAs), while the MACC has also strengthened enforcement, corruption practices in the country have not been reduced significantly.

The TI-M also made some recommendations to improve corruption situation and from these recommendations, we can get a glimpse of the root causes of the country’s corruption problem. We can improve the anti-corruption effort’s efficiency only by rectifying the weaknesses and loopholes in the related areas.

The Malaysian Corruption Barometer (MCB) report revealed by the TI-M in May this year showed that 45 per cent of Malaysians perceived political parties to be the most corrupt and it is not groundless in view of undeclared assets from politicians, direct credit of political contributions into personal accounts and other practices lacking in transparency.

Campaigning funds or political contributions involved in any political campaigns must be processed transparently. The government should study amendments to Section 36 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, forcing politicians to declare their assets and regulate campaigning contributions to avoid fraud emerged from loopholes.

In addition, the lack of transparency in government projects’ tendering and procurement processes is also one of the root causes of corruption. It can be proven by the administrative malpractices exposed by the annual Auditor-General’s report. Awarding government projects after direct negotiations is still in practice and it is seriously lack of transparency. Meanwhile, it lack information about the relatively transparent electronic tendering system "My Procurement". To curb commercial corruption, the tendering system must be transparent and fair. Also, strengthening administrative efficiency can also help in reducing chances for corruption, as simplifying and accelerating the operating process leaves it no reason for the public to bribe public servants.

Corruption practices are just like malignant tumors of all sizes that grow in public institutions, as well as the private sector. To completely eradicate them, the government needs greater determination while the people must also possess the awareness of rejecting bribery. It requires cooperation from all parties. As a law enforcement body, the MACC should play a key role here. The MACC’s performance within its competence and power over the recent few years is indeed remarkable, but to enhance anti-corruption efficiency, greater autonomy and independent status should be granted to the MACC, so that it can strengthen enforcement, inteligence and evidence gathering rights and establish credibility.

The MACC had proposed to the government that some outdated provisions should be amended, including Section 23 and 36 of the MACC Act 2009, but the proposals were not seriously taken. Amending Section 23 is to regulate family members of Cabinet members, state executive councillors and government officers from getting or involving in tendering to curb corruption; while Section 36 grants authority to the MACC to directly investigate assets of suspicious persons. If the government really wants to fight corruption, it must then seriously revise existing provisions to strengthen the MACC’s enforcement authority and efficiency. — mysinchew.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.