Biased methodology claim 'baseless', says TI-M

Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi’s allegation that Transparency International had used a biased methodology when coming up with its corruption report is “baseless”, said Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M) secretary-general Josie M Fernandez.

She said the report, theGovernment Defence Anti-Corruption Index report released by TI-UK last week, was not based on perception surveys, but a peer-reviewed assessment done by two independent experts.

In addition, when the draft report was handed to the Defence Ministry for its response last year, she said the ministry did not raise any issue with the methodology employed.

“The ministry was aware and the ministry participated. They probably know that this is not a perception survey, so the minister’s comments are baseless, or he has not been informed,” she told at a press conference today.

As such, she said TI-M will send a copy of the report to Zahid and hope the ministry would engage with the corruption watchdog to address the issues it raised.

[More to follow]