CPI As A Benchmark In Ending Corruption
Malaysia is aiming to improve its position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), moving from its current rank of 57 into the top 25 out of 180 countries within the next seven years, by 2033.
This second article in a three-part series examining corruption in the country explores the root causes of corrupt practices and recommendations for improvement.
Experts believe Malaysia can achieve its target of being ranked among the top 25 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by 2033, provided comprehensive reforms are implemented in the enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Management and Business, Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam, Dr Mohd Rahim Khamis, said such reforms involve the participation of enforcement agencies, processing time of corruption cases, and a commitment to neutrality and fairness.
“With the current political reforms that take corruption seriously, we are likely to see plans materialising,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama.
Although acknowledging the challenge, he believes eradicating corruption in Malaysia is not impossible.
“Globally, Malaysia is ranked 57th, but within ASEAN we are second after Singapore.
“With this in mind, we should learn from and adopt what Singapore has done to curb corruption. Awareness campaigns alone are insufficient if efforts are merely half-hearted,” he said.
LEARNING FROM THE TOP THREE COUNTRIES
The CPI 2024 records Denmark, Finland and Singapore as the cleanest and highest-ranking countries.
Elaborating further, Mohd Rahim explained that these nations maintain their standing through strong community involvement, transparent service delivery and uncompromising enforcement.
According to him, nurturing a culture of integrity, strengthening enforcement, imposing firm penalties and ensuring efficient, effective governance are key elements that help elevate CPI rankings.
He proposed that Malaysia study and adapt these models, while remaining mindful of the local context.
While praising the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for its ongoing efforts, Mohd Rahim also emphasised the need for stronger community support and closer cooperation among relevant agencies.
On the roots of corruption, he said detailed research is needed but acknowledged low income and rising cost of living as major drivers.
“Low income but big appetite leads to corruption. Ideally, people should live within their means and control finances — money should not control us; we should control money,” he said.
WHY CORRUPTION HAPPENS
Corruption, according to Mohd Rahim, often stems from weak governance and poor internal controls.
Weak governance, he explained, covers a lack of transparency, weak accountability, poor integrity and ethics, inefficiency and ineffectiveness, as well as limited participation in decision-making. Such shortcomings ultimately erode public trust in institutions.
Political influence can also place pressure on organisations, particularly when powerful individuals intervene in decision-making processes — a situation that further undermines public confidence.
Transparency in corruption cases, he noted, also remains a concern. Some cases appear to be “mere theatre” or are closed without firm action, exposing loopholes in prosecution processes and creating space for political interference.
IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY
Unresolved corruption, he warned, undermines national growth by discouraging foreign direct investment (FDI).
Investor sentiment is heavily influenced by indicators such as the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) index, both of which signal the level of risk and clarity of government policy. A low CPI score, in particular, suggests weak governance and uncertain regulatory environments.
As a result, investors tend to favour countries like Singapore, where strong governance, policy clarity and consistently high CPI rankings inspire greater confidence.
Corruption also creates financial leakages and inflates project costs, often resulting in abandoned mega projects and so-called “white elephants” — developments where public funds are exhausted, yet the projects remain incomplete.
DO NOT NORMALISE CORRUPTION
Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Dr Muhammad Shamsinor Abdul Azzis, said corruption often spreads when it is framed as “helping one another” and later reciprocated with rewards.
Acts such as receiving gifts, cash or other favours are then rationalised as normal gestures, particularly when such behaviour is mirrored by superiors.
Muhammad Shamsinor added that weak leadership which turns a blind eye to wrongdoing further undermines preventive efforts and weakens internal enforcement systems.
He stressed that prevention must be strengthened through integrity education, tighter internal controls and a work culture anchored in accountability — noting that without a shift in mindset, the legal framework alone will never be enough.
Sharing a similar view, Dr Nazreena Mohammed Yasin of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia said government agencies — as the primary point of contact between citizens and the state — shoulder a critical responsibility in upholding integrity.
Even minor acts of corruption, she warned, can trigger a domino effect that erodes public trust and disrupts service delivery.
She added that social media amplifies these perceptions, as even isolated cases can easily go viral. Effective strategic communication — including transparent updates on arrests and prosecutions — is therefore essential to restoring public confidence.
GOVERNMENT RESOLVE
Nazreena said although corruption remains worrying, rising arrests also reflect firm government commitment to eradicate it.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has prioritised tackling large-scale corruption that has cost Malaysia billions of ringgit.
The government is committed to eliminating abuse of power within two to three years, including high-profile cases, with no compromise toward offenders.
She added that corruption has become systemic and requires strict enforcement, organisational reforms and cultural change.
She highlighted MACC’s focus not only on catching offenders but also preventing them from enjoying ill-gotten gains through asset recovery and bankruptcy proceedings, aligning with international legal principles.
This approach supports Malaysia’s ambition to reach the top 25 CPI ranking by 2033, without ignoring small cases.
— BERNAMA
