Government: We are On Right Track In Tackling Corruption!

KUALA LUMPUR - Findings from four surveys by reputable international organisations show the government to be on the right track in tackling corruption.

These concern initiatives under NKRA, the National Key Results Areas, said Alexander Iskandar Liew, Director of Communications on GTP (Government Transformation Programme) of Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit in the Prime Minister's Department).

His statement issued is in support of a recent comment by Pemandu CEO Datuk Sri Idris Jala that Malaysia was on the right track in its fight against corruption although a lot more needed to be done.

Liew said the view was based on improved scores given by Transparency International, IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy's Asian Intelligence Newsletter and the World Economic Forum's Yearbook.

Transparency International's Index had shown a slight reduction from 4.5 in 2009 to 4.4 in 2010 and the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook showed an improvement in index from 5.2 in 2009 to 6.3 in 2010.

The Political and Economic Risk Consultancy's Asian Intelligence Newsletter showed in improvement in index from 3.6 in 2009 to 4.6 in 2010 while the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report indicated an improvement in index from 4.5 in 2009 to 4.6 in 2010.

"If we take an average score of the four surveys, it is clear that Malaysia's index has improved from 4.45 in 2009 to 4.975 in 2010. It is in the context of the above that we in Pemandu are saying that the NKRA's efforts in addressing corruption are on the right track.

"We acknowledge that if one were to look only at Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, there is a slight reduction. We need to do a lot more work.

"However, if one were to look at the outcome of the other three surveys on corruption in Malaysia by (those) reputable organisations, then the score clearly shows that there are improvements."

Liew said that it should be clarified that Transparency International CPI for 2010 took into account nine surveys that were conducted between January and December 2009 and from January to September 2010.

"Our NKRA work on corruption only began in January 2010 after the GTP Roadmap launch on Jan 28, 2010. Therefore, the CPI surveys conducted in 2009 do not reflect the NKRA work which only began in 2010," he added.

Liew said the overall scores from the four surveys on corruption in Malaysia could only augur well for the future.

"This is the exact point Datuk Seri Idris was expressing recently. We acknowledge that the current initiatives in themselves are not sufficient to achieve the full extent of the desired results and targets outlined by the Corruption NKRA," he said.

Liew stressed that more would have to be done in 2011, and with greater intensity and focus, to wipe out corrupt practices.

"But the fact remains that we are on the right track as indicate by .. the surveys. We remain confident that the Corruption NKRA will meet its desired objectives, he said.

He added that "the facts speak for themselves and provide clarity on the stance of Pemandu and its CEO."
-- BERNAMA