Corruption index drops, Msia now at no 39
Published: Oct 20, 2004 9:03 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The anti-graft campaign mooted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi took a beating when it was revealed today that the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Malaysia dropped 0.2 points to 5.0 this year.
The anti-graft campaign mooted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi took a beating when it was revealed today that the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Malaysia dropped 0.2 points to 5.0 this year.
Among the 146 countries surveyed in 2004, Malaysia was positioned at 39 with a score of 5 out of 10, sharing the spot with Tunisia.
In 2003, Malaysia was at no 37 in a survey covering 133 countries, having scored 5.2 out of 10.
"The new index comes as a disappointment as many had expected that the Abdullah magic alone was all that was needed to do the trick for Malaysia," Transparency International Malaysia (TIM) president Tunku Abdul Aziz said in a press statement today.
He revealed that as the fundamental changes in the levels of corruption in a country evolve slowly, TIM has opted to base the CPI on a three-year rolling average, so this year CPI is based on survey conducted between 2002 and 2004.
He said the negative perception continue to dog the country in a very fundamental way as no one believes Malaysia is serious about tackling corruption decisively.
"The agencies set up to take on corruption are seen as utterly ineffectual working as they do with inadequate resources and enjoying little or no independence.
The fact that the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) is not truly independent is not lost on the public. To put it bluntly, they do not trust the agency," he stressed.
Public trust
Abdul Aziz said without active public support, no single authority can make the slightest difference in the fight against corrupt practices.
"Although the perception may not have a basis in fact, they are real and views and decisions are coloured by perceived notions.
"What we need to do is to go beyond the cosmetics. There is a great deal of scepticism. Malaysia is a victim of perception" he said.
To combat the corruption, Abdul Aziz suggested that ministers, including the premier, declare their assets and those of their spouses and immediate families to an independent, all-party parliamentary committee.
"The ACA must be made into an independent commission, along the lines of the highly successful Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong and New South Wales Australia," he said, adding that procurement procedures, including privatisation must be transparent and open to public scrutiny.
"There must be greater public access to information, leading eventually to the passing of the Freedom of Information Act,"he added.
Abdul Aziz disclosed that in a special analysis of perception on Malaysia, the most damaging comment is on the country's public procurement procedures which are still seen to be less than fair and open.
"This is an area that requires urgent attention if we want to see a reversal of these negative perception about us," he stressed.
Among the 146 countries surveyed in 2004, Malaysia was positioned at 39 with a score of 5 out of 10, sharing the spot with Tunisia.
In 2003, Malaysia was at no 37 in a survey covering 133 countries, having scored 5.2 out of 10.
"The new index comes as a disappointment as many had expected that the Abdullah magic alone was all that was needed to do the trick for Malaysia," Transparency International Malaysia (TIM) president Tunku Abdul Aziz said in a press statement today. He revealed that as the fundamental changes in the levels of corruption in a country evolve slowly, TIM has opted to base the CPI on a three-year rolling average, so this year CPI is based on survey conducted between 2002 and 2004.
He said the negative perception continue to dog the country in a very fundamental way as no one believes Malaysia is serious about tackling corruption decisively.
"The agencies set up to take on corruption are seen as utterly ineffectual working as they do with inadequate resources and enjoying little or no independence.
The fact that the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) is not truly independent is not lost on the public. To put it bluntly, they do not trust the agency," he stressed.
Public trust
Abdul Aziz said without active public support, no single authority can make the slightest difference in the fight against corrupt practices.
"Although the perception may not have a basis in fact, they are real and views and decisions are coloured by perceived notions.
"What we need to do is to go beyond the cosmetics. There is a great deal of scepticism. Malaysia is a victim of perception" he said.
To combat the corruption, Abdul Aziz suggested that ministers, including the premier, declare their assets and those of their spouses and immediate families to an independent, all-party parliamentary committee.
"The ACA must be made into an independent commission, along the lines of the highly successful Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong and New South Wales Australia," he said, adding that procurement procedures, including privatisation must be transparent and open to public scrutiny.
"There must be greater public access to information, leading eventually to the passing of the Freedom of Information Act,"he added.
Abdul Aziz disclosed that in a special analysis of perception on Malaysia, the most damaging comment is on the country's public procurement procedures which are still seen to be less than fair and open.
"This is an area that requires urgent attention if we want to see a reversal of these negative perception about us," he stressed.
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