Malaysia’s improved score in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023 did not factor in a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last September.
In a briefing today, TI Malaysia president Muhammad Mohan said CPI 2023’s survey themed “Corruption and Justice” was completed in August last year.
"The DNAA was granted on Sept 4 last year. Most probably such a development was not captured in the survey for the CPI 2023 since it only reflected (perception on corruption) incidents until August last year.
"When the DNAA issue came up, many people started researching and learning about it to a point that even the ‘mak cik’ selling pisang goreng (banana fritters) by the roadside know what the DNAA is all about,” Muhammad said at the briefing held at Tropicana Golf and Country Resort in Petaling Jaya today.
He expressed concern that the DNAA granted to Zahid (above) will adversely affect Malaysia’s CPI score this year.
"My biggest worry is that our ranking in the CPI (for 2024) will take a dip. Therefore, do not be too complacent that we have improved by three points,” he said.
Last September, the prosecution withdrew 47 corruption charges against Zahid related to Yayasan Akalbudi.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court then allowed the prosecution’s application for DNAA.
The decision is being challenged in court.
Muhammad today announced that Malaysia’s score in the CPI 2023 rebounded for the first time in three years, scoring 50 out of 100 points.
The CPI uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero is perceived to be highly corrupted and 100 is perceived to be very clean.
Its ranking has also shown improvement, clinching the 57th spot for 2023 out of 180 countries, from the 61st position it held in 2022.
Strategy needed to achieve 10-year target
While commending Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s aspiration to place the country in the top 25 nations in the global CPI in 10 years, Muhammad said the government lacks strategy.
“It has not shared how Malaysia is going to achieve that.
“Without clear plans with milestones and mini targets in the next 10 years, we may be disappointed, just as past CPI targets were not met,” he added.
For the country to show continuous improvement in the CPI score and achieve the vision set by Anwar, he said the Madani government should accelerate institutional and legislative reforms.
“This is because they are in a stable political environment and have a working majority in Parliament. TI-M hopes this opportunity will not be wasted,” he stressed. - Mkini
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