IMPROVED PERCEPTION OF GOVT FIGHTING GRAFT THIS YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The percentage of Malaysians having a positive
perception of the government's actions in fighting corruption has increased this
year, said Paul Low, President of Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M).

TI-M had released results of a face-to-face survey with 1,000 people in the
rural and urban areas in conjunction with the release of Transparency
International's Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) 2010.

Of the persons surveyed, 48 per cent thought that the government’s actions were
effective, 32 per cent were neutral while 20 per cent thought that the
government’s actions were ineffective.

"This is a drastic turnaround from the previous year as 28 per cent had thought
that the government’s actions were effective, six per cent were neutral, while
67 per cent thought that the government’s actions were ineffective," said Low.

He stressed that the 48 percent level substantially exceeded the
government’s KPI of 37 per cent although the government did not achieve its KPI of
Corruption Perception Index (CPI)score of 4.9 as Malaysia’s CPI 2010 score was 4.4
(almost the same as previous year’s score of 4.5).

Low said the positive perception could be due to the government’s
initiatives to address corruption in a number of areas.

They include having integrity as a National Key Result Area (NKRA), with
improvement of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score from 4.5 to 4.9 as a
Key Productivity Index; formation of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission
(MACC) with more powers and autonomy and review by independent panels; and the
Whistleblower Protection Act to come into force on Dec 15, 2010 to expose
corruption by protecting whistleblowers and for Malaysia to meet its obligations
under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

Other positive initiatives were the MACC's Name and shame" approach in having a
Convicted Corruption Offenders Database in MACC's website, with convicted
offenders’ details, charge and sentence imposed and photographs and the
establishment of compliance units in key enforcement agencies - Royal Malaysian
Police, Road Transport Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department,
Immigration Department of Malaysia and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Low said the government must show strong political will to vigorously fight
corruption.

Given Malaysia’s aspiration to be a high income and developed country by the
year 2020, the commitment to fight corruption must be clear and firm, he said.

"Malaysia’s quest for a high income economy would fail if corruption persists. A
high income economy can only be achieved where there are efficient delivery
systems, where the organs of government and institutions govern and manage the
country and its resources professionally, responsibly and with integrity,
transparency and good governance, in the interest of the nation and its
citizens," he added.

Low said TI-M felt that the MACC should be made more independent and autonomous
to reinforce the rule of law that no one was above the law, that it should
report directly to a Parliamentary committee, and also be given prosecution
powers.

Meanwhile, the police were perceived to be the most corrupt in TI-M's survey and
political parties were ranked next.
-- BERNAMA