The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIA’s score in Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2020 has dropped two points, a small decline but still a downward trend that should not be dismissed, TI Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said.

Malaysia scored 51 points out of 100 in 2020, putting it in 57th place out of 180 countries. In 2019, it scored 53 points and was in 51st place.

“Although a drop in the score appears statistically insignificant, the government must be cognisant that our (falling) rank… means that compared to other countries, we are not improving in our efforts to fight corruption,” Muhammad said during livestream briefing of the CPI report today.

“As an Islamic country, corruption does not look very good on us which is why we should at least try our best to be the least corrupt country among other Islamic nations.”

Malaysia’s 2019 score of 53 points had also been a huge improvement from 47 before the 2018 general election when the Barisan Nasional government was removed from federal power after six decades.

Muhammad said added among the factors contributing to Malaysia’s score decline are delays in the Political Funding Bill which was to be tabled in Parliament by the PH government but has yet to happen.

The revision of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill to a watered-down version and a largely ineffective Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill are also factors.

“Also, the separation of powers between the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor is yet to be initiated by the government,” he added.

Muhammad also cited the lack of government transparency with information on matters of public interest such as the compensation for cancelling the High Speed Rail project with Singapore and compensation paid as settlement by Goldman Sachs in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case.

“In order to turn around Malaysia’s standing in the index, the Perikatan Nasional government should accelerate institutional reforms such as making MACC more independent.

“Pushing for the IPCMC Bill instead of the toothless IPCC Bill, enactment of the political financing law to stop money politics and restoring parliamentary democracy at the earliest opportunity, must be the focus.

“Also, there must be greater transparency and matters of public interest should be disclosed by narrowing down the scope of the Official Secrets Act,” said Muhammad.

Compared to other Islamic countries, Malaysia comes six places behind the United Arab Emirates, and among Asean countries, Malaysia is third behind Singapore and Brunei.

Singapore is the only country in Asia to be ranked 10th in the world in the CPI.

Denmark and New Zealand are top of the index with 88 points each, while Syria, South Sudan and Somalia are the bottom of the index, with 14, 12 and 12 points respectively. – January 28, 2021.