Improving Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index: A 10-Year Roadmap
Task Force Discusses Measures to Enhance Country’s CPI Score and Ranking
PUTRAJAYA: The Special Task Force on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) held its second meeting today to discuss measures aimed at improving Malaysia’s performance in the CPI, with particular attention to the decline in scores in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook survey and the Economist Intelligence Country Risk Service.
Strategies to Enhance CPI Score and Ranking
The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, also examined strategies to enhance Malaysia’s CPI score and ranking following the announcement of the CPI 2024 results by Transparency International-Malaysia on Feb 11, the task force said in a statement.
Proposed Improvement Measures
Among the proposed improvement measures are strengthening communication and advocacy regarding the government’s efforts to improve governance through initiatives and legal reforms such as the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023. Other suggested measures include the drafting of the Government Procurement Bill, efforts to address bureaucratic red tape through Bureaucratic Red Tape Reforms, and improvements to the business licensing mechanisms, according to a statement issued by the CPI special task force, led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Focus Groups’ Recommendations
"In efforts to improve Malaysia’s CPI ranking, the Business Competitiveness Focus Group, led by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation, and the Public Fund Management Focus Group, led by the Ministry of Finance, will submit comprehensive reports based on survey analyses and improvement recommendations to the Special Task Force on CPI for necessary interventions," the statement said.
Legal Reforms
"In addition, the Legal Focus Group, led by the Legal Affairs Department of the Prime Minister’s Department, will focus on legal reforms, including amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Bill, to enhance public confidence in transparency and the efficiency of the public service delivery system," the statement said.
10-Year CPI Roadmap
Following these discussions, a 10-year CPI Roadmap has been developed, with the goal of placing Malaysia among the top 25 countries by 2033. The roadmap is based on three main dimensions: Shared Accountability, Strong and Effective Institutions, and Strategic Collaboration.
Good Governance Conference 2025
As part of the efforts to strengthen governance, the Good Governance Conference 2025 will be held here on Feb 24, with participation from the public sector, private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the task force said further.
Conclusion
The Special Task Force on the Corruption Perception Index is committed to improving Malaysia’s CPI score and ranking, with a 10-year roadmap to achieve this goal. By strengthening communication and advocacy, improving governance, and implementing reforms, Malaysia can enhance public confidence in transparency and the efficiency of the public service delivery system.
FAQs
Q: What is the goal of the 10-year CPI Roadmap?
A: The goal is to place Malaysia among the top 25 countries by 2033.
Q: What are the three main dimensions of the 10-year CPI Roadmap?
A: Shared Accountability, Strong and Effective Institutions, and Strategic Collaboration.
Q: What is the Good Governance Conference 2025?
A: It is a conference to be held on Feb 24, with participation from the public sector, private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).