Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi promised the people of Malaysia that he would step up his anti-corruption campaign, giving assurances that justice will be done.

He added that he will only be satisfied after Malaysia's corruption is improved by leaps and bounds, he said in a 30-minute interview with CNN 's Asia Talk programme host Lorraine Hahn aired today.

The interview, also carried by Bernama , quoted him as saying that he would continue on with his anti-corruption campaign without fear of favour.

His statement was prompted by corruption watchdog Tranparency International's index for 2003 which placed Malaysia in 37 th place out of 137 countries and fifth following countries after Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.

"I will be certainly be very happy when the corruption index improves," Abdullah said.

He added that if a corruption case had to be brought to court, then it had to be done, stressing that it was important in ensuring that justice was done at all times.

He also said that he would be sending out constant reminders to civil servants.

Same vehicle, change driver

When asked about the disappointment drawn from the retention of several ministers in his cabinet some of whom have been accused of corruption, he said that he appoints people whom he knows and whom he believes can do the job.

"I've always said that you can use the same vehicle although the driver will change," Abdullah said.

After Abdullah's Barisan Nasional coalition won a resounding victory in the nation's 11 th general election on an anti-corruption platform, the DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang expressed his displeasure at the retention of several 'tainted' ministers.

Among those he named were Rafidah Aziz, who retained her international trade and industry ministry, S Samy Vellu (retained his works ministry), Ong Ka Ting (retained his housing and local government ministry) and Mohd Nazri Aziz (moved from entrepreneur development ministry to the Prime Minister's Department).

Abdullah also mentioned that his National Integrity Plan (NIP) launched in April would play an important role in working towards a graft-clean government.

The NIP, backed by the newly formed Malaysian Integrity Institute would be instrumental in the government's bid to reduce corruption and abuse of power.