Transparency International Malaysia today called on the government to free all ISA detainees or risk losing further foreign investments.

The anti-corruption watchdog warned that the lack of sensitivity to the wishes of the people and the changing times could only drag the country into a quagmire, which if left unchecked, would drive away investors.

transparency international election workshop 240108 ramon navaratnam "The international and domestic perceptions of Malaysia's transparency are being eroded by the easy and unnecessary application of the ISA that was designed to fight communist terrorists," Transparency International president Ramon Navaratnam told Malaysiakini.

"The repressive laws that we have now are archaic and outdated and are not relevant today to promote a progressive economy."

Transparency International also asked the government to review or revoke all laws that could constrain the rule of law and fundamental freedoms or that could undermine transparency, accountability and integrity.

transparency international malaysia ranking in cpi from 2001 to 2008 230908 "The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) issued by Transparency International only the day before has shown that Malaysia has stagnated at just around the score of 5 out of a maximum of 10 points for the last 8 years," Navaratnam said.

"It is considered that this relatively poor performance can be partially attributed to our lack of national transparency due to some restrictive laws such as the Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act," he added.

Perception rankings continue to slide

Despite the government’s much-publicised anti-corruption initiatives nd revamps, Malaysia slipped to 47th placing in the 2008 Corruption Perception Index compared to 43rd place in 2007. By contrast, Singapore moved to fourth place in the index which tracks 180 countries around the world.

Abdullah recently came under fire for arresting three civilians under the oppressive ISA which allows for prolonged detention without trial.

raja petra to police station on burma doctor sd 040908 02 While he has since bowed to pressure, releasing two of the detainess, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin ( left in photo ) was sent to the Kamunting Detention Camp this week to begin a two-year detention.

Including Raja Petra, there are now 62 people detained under the ISA.

"The Corruption Perception Index for Malaysia can improve considerably, if the government takes urgent action to remove the reasons that partially caused the relatively mediocre CPI for Malaysia," Navaratnam said.