Malaysia risks becoming a member of the 'World's Most Corrupt' club if its anti-corruption efforts are not implemented and enforced effectively to deal it a severe blow, Kuala Lumpur Society for Transparency and Integrity president Tunku Abdul Aziz said today.

Aziz said in a statement that high standards for not only the public but also the corporate sector were needed as part of a continuing, long-term goal to reverse Malaysia's tarnished image in terms of ethics.

Welcoming Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement that anyone involved in corruption will from now on face the wrath and full extent of the law, he said, "We hope the PM's first duty after the general election will be to put his house in order."

Keeping his promise

"He will, in particular, need to remove those whose public behaviour does not bear close scrutiny" said Aziz adding that if Abdullah does not remove his own colleagues who are tainted, then his call to fight corruption "will sound extremely hollow."

The prime minister's legitimacy to govern the nation depends not only on the majority he obtains in parliament but also on his keeping his promise to make corruption a "high risk and low return business," added Aziz.

He said his organisation will continue to render to the government its fullest support in the fight for an ethically clean Malaysia.