A name and shame approach in the form of a public database, listing convicted graft offenders, will be part of the government fight against corruption.

The database will also serve to facilitate employment decisions, especially for sensitive positions involving authority and trust.

The Government's Transformation Programme (GTP) roadmap, which is revealed today, has identified nine initiatives on the elimination of corruption:

 Increase the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score from 4.5 to 4.9 this year.

Increase the TI's Global Corruption Barometer survey on government actions to fight corruption percentage in answering "effective" from 28 percent to 37 percent this year.

Increase the number of cases charged versus number of arrests for drug trafficking and possession under the Dangerous Drugs Act from 75 percent to 80 percent this year.

Increase number of summons settled versus number of summons issued by the police from 50 percent to 61 percent and by the Road Transport Department from 60 percent to 78 percent.

Increase number of cases charged versus number of arrests and detentions under the Immigration law from 53 percent to 60 percent this year.

Increase tax recovered from under-declared goods from RM9 million to RM21 million this year.

Reduce number of audit findings on maladministration of procurement per ministry sampled from 11.2 to 10.6 this year.

Increase percentage of trials completed within one year from 8.5 percent to 30 percent.

To list 80 people in the database of convicted offenders this year from zero.

Four key enforcement agencies

To achieve the targets, the government will strengthen and empower compliance units within each enforcement agency - the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Royal Customs Department, Immigration Department and the Road Transport Department.

Therefore, to tighten compliance monitoring of enforcement agencies and their officers, the government will staff compliance units appropriately, empower units to act under the direct oversight of the agency's head and an independent commission and establish a supporting framework.

To reduce the opportunity for corrupt practices to take place at these enforcement agencies, job rotation will be instituted to help prevent enforcement officers from forming collaborative relationships with criminal organisations and also create a league table of performance for all local authorities.

On the practice of support letters, which are often used to exert influence on civil servants to circumvent standard government policies and processes in obtaining contracts, it will be gradually reduced, with an ultimate goal to eliminate the practice altogether.

Details of all government procurement contracts will be disclosed where respective ministries  are required to publish the information centrally at the e-Government portal, which will display a summary of projects for which procurement is planned and awarded by the respective ministries.

From this portal, the public will be linked to the respective ministries' websites for further details on the projects or procurement.

To enhance the level of transparency in the political funding process, the government will enforce existing laws and conduct study to revamp political funding.

The government will also propose that politicians and political parties be required to disclose their sources of funding and expenditures to the appropriate agencies.

The government will also announce zero tolerance policy supported by robust whistleblower protection framework.

Without fear or favour

All reported cases of corruption cases will be fully investigated regardless of the position or status of those involved and full disclosure on the details of convicted offenders will be made as an act of deterrence.

Swift and harsh punishment will be meted out to those who are found guilty of corruption.

Independence of the key institutions will be strengthened and this will involve a study of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act to find ways to strengthen its role in providing recommendations for judicial appointments.

To complete prosecution of corruption cases within one year, particularly for public interest cases.

In order to ensure swift and efficient prosecution, procedures for the recording of witness statement and the delivery of subpoenas will be strengthened.

In addition, strict time-lines will be enforced on all prosecution processes and procedures. In line with this, the case handling capacity of the courts will also be increased through additional appointments of deputy public prosecutors and the setting up of new special corruption courts.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act will be amended to provide for stiffer punishment based on the severity of offences as currently there is no minimum sentence stipulated if an individual is found guilty of corruption.

In addition, a harsher penalty structure will also be implemented for convicted public officers (civil servants and members of the administration, legislature and judiciary).

- Bernama