SHAH ALAM - Strengthening governance across all government agencies is seen as the best approach to improving Malaysia’s standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
Senior Lecturer at the Core Studies Centre, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Associate Professor Dr Abd Hakim Mohad said the CPI is not solely about corruption but also reflects the overall quality of governance.
He stated that while the government has introduced several positive measures to enhance administrative governance, efforts to fully mobilise these initiatives remain insufficient.
"The government’s commitment to strengthening governance in the public service to ensure fair, transparent and accountable administration is commendable.
"The establishment of the Malaysian Ombudsman to provide independent oversight free from executive influence, along with the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 as a continuation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan, are significant steps forward.
"The enactment of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act to enhance governance, accountability and transparency in fiscal management, as well as the formation of the National Governance Committee (JTK), also marks progress in this area," he said on Monday.
Abd Hakim stressed the need to continue expanding these initiatives across all government agencies.
He suggested that incorporating the country’s CPI score as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for all ministries would be a crucial step.
This proposal was among the resolutions adopted at the 3rd National Conference on Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption Research, held on Sept 26-27, 2024.
"If implemented, this would ensure that all ministries take the CPI score seriously rather than leaving the responsibility solely to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)," he said.
He also pointed out that this strategy could serve a dual purpose by improving the efficiency of government agencies while simultaneously enhancing Malaysia’s CPI ranking.
With collective effort, he said, Malaysia's goal of securing a top-25 position in the CPI by 2033 is within reach.