KUALA LUMPUR: Despite Malaysia's improvement in the 2023 Corruption Perception Index, there can be no let-up in continuous reviews to address weaknesses in efforts to curb corruption, say analysts.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said there was a lack of political will in implementing crucial reforms within the existing legal frameworks to eradicate corruption.
"The mother of all corruption is political financing, meaning that you use funds to actually engage in political activities.
"The funds can come from an individual, corporate entities or foundations.
"So if you do not regulate where the money comes from, then there is still a high possibility of corruption seeping into the system," he said during an interview in the Beyond the Headlines podcast by the New Straits Times.
Pushpan said politicians from both sides of the divide must understand that the matter could not be impeded because "they have to declare who has been supporting them all this while".
"If we pursue this critical reform, only then can we talk about policies and development effectively. No longer about 'pocket money'."
Pushpan said an ecosystem-wide approach was essential, where reforms should also involve key sectors, such as government agencies, law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
"We don't talk about conflict of interest enough in Malaysia in the fight against corruption.
"Hence, we need to be very careful at how we want to look at the perception index. Yes, it gives us confidence, and the investors as well, but how do we want to go forward in terms of using such data?"
In a separate panel discussion but also on the fight against corruption, Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz of the International Islamic University of Malaysia said suggestions to place the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under the king should be considered to enhance the body's independence.
This was suggested by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia when he was still the King-in-waiting last December.
"His Majesty is the supreme head of the federation and His Majesty's main duty is, of course, to make sure that the political culture, economics and the identity of the nation is stable," Shamrahayu said.
Shamrahayu, who is a constitution expert, said while there was no doubt that the constitutional monarchy had to act within the boundaries of the Federal Constitution, the role of the royal institution should serve as the umbrella of integrity.
"This includes combating all forms of corruption for the benefit of the monarchy and also the government of the day."