PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is intensifying its efforts to ensure that Malaysia reaches a top 25 ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) within the next decade.
Currently ranked 57th with 50 points, MACC National Governance Planning Division director Datuk Abd Aziz Aban said Malaysia required an additional 19 points to achieve this goal.
The blueprint for Malaysia's ascent to the top 25 lies in the forthcoming National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028, which will outline the country's direction and commitment in the fight against corruption, as well as strengthen good governance and integrity over the next five years.
The NACS is scheduled for release in the middle of this year.
Aziz reiterated MACC's unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption, enhancing good governance and institutionalising integrity as the central pillars and foundation of the nation.
"To reach the 25th rank, we need a score of 69, while our current score stands at 50 points, which means that we need an annual increase of two points.
"In the period from 2018 to 2019, we experienced a six-point increase, indicating an opportunity to break into the top 25, provided we demonstrate unwavering commitment and political will," he said during an exclusive interview.
Aziz said the NACS would incorporate initiatives yet to be realised under the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023.
The NACP outlines initiatives in governance, integrity and anti-corruption across six priority sectors — political governance, public sector administration, public procurement, legislation and judiciary, law enforcement and corporate governance.
As of Dec 31, 77 per cent of the NACP has been completed, comprising 85 initiatives, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Aziz acknowledged the possibility of some drafted initiatives remaining incomplete due to political and legal constraints.
"Challenges to implementing the NACP initiatives include constraints during the pandemic and the change of government thrice between 2019 and 2023.
"Nevertheless, despite these challenges, we (MACC) are committed to monitoring NACP initiatives and are prepared to undertake new responsibilities in coordinating the next plan, namely NACS 2024-2028.
He said planning for the post-NACP 2019-2023 documents commenced in 2021 under the NACP 2019-2023 initiative monitoring secretariat, with input analysis, statistics and relevant data aimed at combating corruption effectively.
"Therefore, the proposed strategies and reform ideas in the drafts are anticipated to have a significant impact on combating corruption in Malaysia and indirectly contribute to improving the country's CPI score."
Aziz welcomed all interested parties, including the public, to contribute to the NACS 2024-2028, adding that they have engaged with multiple stakeholders and non-governmental organisations during the drafting process.
He said eliminating corruption remained the responsibility of all Malaysians, not solely MACC, including supervisors monitoring their subordinates.
To this end, Aziz's department developed MyGovernance as a guide for implementing good governance principles, focusing on transparency, responsibility, effective resource management, strategic coordination, risk management, and internal control and oversight mechanisms.
Last year, the then deputy minister in Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said a total of 10 initiatives, particularly related to the amendments to the Federal Constitution and the introduction of new legislation, would be reevaluated for consideration in the new NACS document, in line with the government's current policy.