Corporate Sector Corruption, Political Fundings To Be Under Greater Focus In 2015

By Shanty Devi Ayadurai KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Never mind some of the brickbats and stingy commendations that followed the release of the 2014 Corruption Perception Index last month despite Malaysia’s improved performance, the National Key Result Area’s Anti-Corruption team is unperturbed and seems set on going about its business to help Malaysia join the league of 30 cleanest governments in the world by 2020. But, will that be a tad too ambitious? While the skeptics might be inclined to think so, for the team, tasked with the role of facilitating and monitoring initiatives taken towards fighting graft in the public sector under the NKRA, it is a clear and an achievable target. From the ongoing sprucing up of the front line civil service personnel to weeding out the perpetrators of bigger crimes, the concerted anti-graft plan under the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) is a work in progress that has begun gaining momentum if the number of civil staff-related corruption cases that were unearthed last year alone is a measure to go by. In the 2014 CPI, Malaysia's ranking improved to 50th spot from 53rd in 2013 in a list of 175 countries. The index run by Transparency International reflects the perceived level of public sector corruption with each of the country’s scores coming from a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption involving reputable institutions as respondents. A country that scores 100 is perceived to be relatively clean from corruption. Prime Minister Najib Razak, who commended the performance, also voiced his aspiration to see Malaysia move further up in the ladder and having among the cleanest public administration in the world. The road is, however, not expected to be easy and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Chief Executive Officer of the Performance Management Unit (Pemandu) Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala while pointing out the progress made in cutting graft since the implementation of the GTP in 2010, also admitted that much more would have to be done. This year, tackling corruption in the corporate sector and the regulation of political fundings will be among the areas of focus for the team, said the Director of the Anti-Corruption NKRA, Ravindran Devagunam in an interview with Bernama. One initiative that will fast forward efforts to reduce graft, will be the insertion of Corporate Liability Provision into the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year. "This will hold companies in risk of corruption cases related to them," said Ravindran. Under the present legislation, individuals are held responsible for acts of corruption committed under the breadth of a company. On how realistically the CPI rating reflects on actual corruption in the public sector, Ravindran said:"It is an index of the perceived state of corruption. I am not saying there isn’t any corruption, but the issue of corruption is much more highlighted and talked about in this country, (which may give rise to unfair comparisons) and it is also much more politicised in Malaysia than anywhere else." Meanwhile, investors' response to the CPI rating has been good. "There has been acknowledgement from businesses and investors who have expressed confidence in the efforts that have been taken to weed out corruption. "While some of the measures that have been put to fight graft, will take a while to show tangible results, the fact that there is already increased public pressure is a move in the right direction," Ravindran said. For instance, the move to table the Auditor General Report at every Parliament session and the engagement of the media by the office of the Chief Secretary-General on the issues highlighted in the report have also contributed to the perception of increased transparency from the government. Weeding out corruption in a more concerted and a structured way was established along with the identification of seven National Key Results Areas under the GTP, with corruption, seen to potentially impede Malaysia’s progress into a developed nation, being one. While the NKRA Anti-Corruption team works with relevant enforcement agencies including the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, the police force, customs and immigrations, its role remains that of a facilitator entrusted to effectively push the anti-graft initiatives. Last year, the police force formed the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department and integrity testing for hiring and promotion of police officers. This is expected to curb corruption at its source. -- BERNAMA