LETTERS: The Global Financial Integrity Report estimates Malaysia lost around US$6 to US$7 billion (RM28.37 to 33.10 billion) a year to corruption between 2005 and 2014.
The 2022 Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International (TI) ranked Malaysia 61 out of 180 countries, indicating a moderate to high level of perceived public sector corruption.
TI also revealed that 71 per cent, or seven out of 10 Malaysians, consider corruption a significant issue.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) reports that corruption can inflate the cost of public projects by up to 30 per cent, resulting in inefficient infrastructure and services.
In simpler terms, if a road, school, or hospital was supposed to cost RM100,000 to build, corruption could increase this cost to RM130,000. This extra RM30,000 does not go into making the project better but is typically lost to corrupt practices.
Effectively addressing corruption in Malaysia requires a comprehensive strategy. Strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing law enforcement capabilities and fostering government transparency are crucial.
The National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 by the government is a proactive step in this direction.
The key to Malaysia's success in combating corruption lies not only in legal and institutional reforms, but also in cultivating a societal ethos that opposes corruption.
The role of community leadership in this crucial endeavour is akin to Rwanda's innovative "Imihigo" system. Malaysia could implement a similar framework.
In this system, local leaders set annual performance targets that are not only realistic and achievable, but also deeply rooted in the community's needs and aspirations.
This ensures that targets are not just top-down directives but are organically integrated into local contexts.
To adopt this model, Malaysia could initiate a programme where local leaders and community representatives identify and prioritise their anti-corruption goals.
Regular public forums and community feedback mechanisms can be established to monitor progress and ensure that these targets genuinely reflect the community's needs.
Furthermore, incorporating a system of rewards and recognition for communities and leaders who achieve their anti-corruption targets could foster a positive and proactive approach to tackling corruption.
This could be supplemented by nationwide awareness campaigns, encouraging a culture of integrity and accountability across all levels of government.
By empowering local leadership and communities, Malaysia can create a robust, bottom-up approach to eradicating corruption.
This not only makes economic sense but also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among the people in our fight against corruption.
DR MOHD ZAIDI MD ZABRI
Senior Lecturer, Department of Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times