PETALING JAYA, Dec 3 — Scoring 50 out of 100, Malaysia went up just one notch to 53rd place out of 177 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2013 compared to last year, despite a concerted effort to combat graft under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

Malaysia scored 49 last year, placing 54th out of 176 countries.

In announcing the global index capturing perceptions of corruption in the public sector today, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) claimed the level of graft experienced in the nation has not significantly decreased.

“Stronger measures and practices need to be enforced and must be taken to eliminate entrenched interests and processes that support abuses,” TI-M said in a statement here.

Malaysia was ranked third among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the regional list topped by Singapore, which ranked fifth out of the 177 countries.

Brunei ranked second in the region.

Malaysia also shared the same score with Turkey, with Mauritius above the two, and below them Georgia and Lesotho.

High on TI-M’s concerns was selective non-investigation and non-prosecution, noting the lack of convictions in “high profile” cases.

It also highlighted the lack of open tenders or competitive bidding in the award of privatisation and mega projects.

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.

TI-M president Datuk Akhbar Satar said there is also a possibility that handouts and alleged money politics in the 13th General Elections might have contributed to Malaysia’s measly score.

The average score worldwide was 43, with 70 per cent countries scoring less than 50.

Scandinavian countries have consistently topped the list, with Denmark and New Zealand in the top two this year helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions.

Finland, Sweden and Norway rounded up the world’s top five nations seen as least corrupted.

Meanwhile, Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan was placed at the bottom rank, with all three scoring single digits.

Malaysia’s CPI score was the composite of nine independent global surveys, with Malaysia performing the worst in the Transparency International Bribe Payers Survey, scoring only 31 out of 100.

The Bribe Payers Survey noted that half of its respondents complained that they have lost business in Malaysia due to bribery.

According to TI-M, the index does not only compare reported bribes and prosecutions, but also the efficiency of investigators, prosecutors, the courts, and the media in exposing corruption.

The index uses data compiled in the past 24 months, and is touted as having immense influence on foreign investors.