Transparency International-Malaysia today rapped Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for not seriously tackling corruption following the 1MDB and RM2.6 billion donation affairs which dragged Malaysia down four notches in the latest world Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking.

TI-M president Akhtar Satar said an independent MACC was essential to combat corruption and criticised Najib for failing to walk the talk.

“First thing, they are not interested. Secondly, they have been promising (measures such as) declaring assets and drafting corporate liability (laws).

“The prime minister has spoken but he (did) he not walk the talk. He came out last time wanting to amend corporate liability laws but nothing happened,” he told reporters after announcing the 2015 Malaysia CPI report in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked whether he meant that Najib did not take corruption seriously, he replied "Yes."

Akhtar was responding to a question asking why despite many quarters calling for an independent MACC, nothing had been done to implement this.

More autonomy

Earlier, Akhtar reiterated that MACC should receive more administrative and financial autonomy and be free from executive interference.

He said MACC's budget should not come from the Treasury, which would then be in a position to exert control over it. Instead, its finances should be derived from Parliament or be independently allocated.

Malaysia dropped another four notches in the latest 2015 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking compared to the previous year, according to TI-M.

To improve the situation, Akhbar proposed that the government should display the political will to drive home anti-graft messages.

His other suggestions were that practical formulas or mechanisms to regulate political financing be put in place, as well as criminalising and carrying out enforcement against passive foreign bribery.