PUTRAJAYA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday this year's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International raised doubts as to its authenticity, demanding questions as to whether it reflected the actual situation in the country.

The prime minister said the country could assume that it was merely a perception and differed from reality.

"Whatever the conclusion that may be drawn from the index, I am committed to implementing the integrity agenda in the country," he said when launching the national-level state integrity institute and the National Integrity Day 2006 celebrations at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

Abdullah said he regarded the latest index as a reminder and a wake-up call for everyone to strive harder to implement long-term measures to eradicate corruption and create more people with honourable and noble values.

According to the CPI, Malaysia's position on the index fell from 39th to 44th position among 163 countries considered in the study.

"We do not need other people to tell us of the situation in our own country," he said.

Abdullah said he himself had asked for a national-level plan to be created to help the government to advance integrity among the people through the National Integrity Plan because he was aware of the challenges being faced now.

He said there was still room for improvement in the government's efforts to enhance efficiency in the public service delivery system and overcome bureaucratic red-tape.

The prime minister said he was confident the people would cooperate with him to eradicate corruption, overcome irregularities and cease abuse of authority in all sectors, including the public, private, political and non-governmental sectors.

However, he said, many quarters had expressed disappointment and criticism that many cases related to corruption, whether involving the "small fish" or the "big fish" were pending.

"Whenever this issue is raised, the criticism is always directed at the prime minister, implying that he is not serious in acting against the offenders," he said.

The prime minister said it was the process of the courts and he left it to the courts to resolve the cases.

"Therefore, like the people, I hope that the courts will expedite the hearing of these corruption cases so that not only is justice done, but justice is seen to be done," he said.

He said the delay in hearing the concluding the corruption cases could undermine the government's efforts to eradicate corruption and enhance integrity.

"I know there is a saying: justice delayed is justice denied," he said.

Abdullah said perhaps the time has come for a mid-term review of the National Integrity Plan and consider whether what had been planned was still relevant or had to be reconsidered.

He said it was important to bring efforts to enhance integrity to the grassroots, to ensure that every citizen knew that the government was committed and serious in the matter and subsequently strived with the government to uphold integrity in Malaysia.

"I state here clearly that the effort is not for the sake of winning elections; we implement this because we love the country," he said.

The government is doing this because it realises what can happen to a country and its people if the government allows evil to overcome good, he said.

He said the availability of the state integrity institute network could transform the country into a nation that was efficient and of integrity, and simultaneously change the perception of outsiders about the level of corruption and integrity in the country.

Also present at the function were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Cabinet ministers and several menteris besar and chief ministers.

-- BERNAMA