The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has stressed that it remains committed to the task of tackling corruption in the country and that it does not “downplay” the seriousness of the matter.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, its strategic communications director Azmi Alias today denied that commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed (left) had on Monday equated the state of corruption in the country as mere “perception”.

He was responding to a Malaysiakini report in which Abu Kassim was deemed to have “downplayed” the findings of a survey conducted by top accounting firm KPMG on public-listed companies.

Of the firms polled in the survey, 81 percent agreed they paid bribes to secure approvals from government agencies, 90 percent who had suffered fraud said it was part of business costs, while 64 percent said business cannot proceed unless bribes are paid.

“Less talk on corruption may have a better impact. When there is so much news about it ... that is the perception, but the reality is different," Abu Kassim had commented when presented with the findings.

Azmi, however, pointed out that MACC “continues to demonstrate its commitment to effectively combat corruption”.

“This can be seen through a series of recent initiatives, strategies and programmes employed by the MACC including the Transformation Programme.”

He added that the graft-busting body was also in the midst of tightening the MACC Act 2009, by looking at including several amendments such as one concerning “corporate liability”.

These initiatives, he said, have borne fruit with the rate of convictions having increased by 54 percent from 2009 to 85 percent in 2012.

“MACC would also like to clarify that Abu Kassim himself, and senior officers would not have attended the event (launch of the KPMG survey report) if it was true that the MACC did not view the results of the survey seriously,” the statement reads.

Editor's note: During the KPMG event, Abu Kassim Mohamed had said that less public discussion about corruption will have a positive impact on public perception on corruption. 
 
He then shared an anecdote about his counterpart from an unnamed country on how they have climbed up the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
 
"The reason why I say why less talk on corruption might have a positive impact is that during an international forum and discussion with my friends from other countries.
 
"I spoke to one chief commissioner from one country where the CPI index jumped significantly and I asked him what is the formula. He said that it is easy... just talk less on corruption.
 
"Perception is perception. When there is so many news about (corruption, the) public may perceive differently. That is perception and reality is a different thing".
 
Malaysiakini has reviewed the recording of Abu Kassim's comments and stands by its report on Jan 13.