Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi defended his anti-corruption drive against widespread criticism today and vowed to press on with the campaign through a two-pronged strategy.

"Those who claim to see a lack of movement in this direction may be limiting their view to particular aspects of the anti-corruption agenda, namely arrests and convictions of people," he said at the 'World Ethics and Integrity Forum 2005' at the Integrity Institute Malaysia (IIM) in Kuala Lumpur.

"Perhaps this is understandable given that it is, for many people, the most visible and sensational aspect of an anti-corruption drive," he added.

Abdullah conceded that there were many "difficult choices and decisions" he had to made in the effort to root out graft.

"However, my government and I are firmly resolved to continue the fight, and to utilise whatever resources that may be required to support that fight."

The prime minister said both 'preventive' and 'punitive' measures will be implemented in the campaign.

From the preventive aspect, he said it means closing the gaps or opportunities for corrupt activities to occur by improving the public service delivery system and by increasing the transparency and accountability in the public sector, namely through enhancing the use of an open-tender system.

On the punitive aspect, Abdullah explained that he has given a free hand to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to carry out their tasks, pointing out that the agency had made more arrests last year.

Not politically motivated

The campaign against graft, launched by Abdullah when he assumed the premiership 18 months ago, has elicited much criticisms lately.

Today, he also countered allegations that his decision to make the fight against corruption and good governance the main pillars of his administration was politically motivated.

"I wish to make it clear that this decision is not motivated by political or even popularity considerations, as some have suggested," he clarified in his 30-minute address.

He stressed that he would not make more arrests and prosecutions to raise his popularity as he could not interfere in the the ACA and the police, and that he subscribed to the doctrine of 'innocent until proven guilty'.

"This means that every corruption-related case that is brought up must be backed by hard evidence that is able to stand the scrutiny of a court of law."

Abdullah added that he would not want to be seen as merely 'doing something' about corruption and cautioned the media about being quick to "capitalise on the public's curiosity and fascination" about arresting people and presuming that the person is guilty by running a 'trial by media'.

"Even if the person is later found to be innocent, his or her reputation would have been already been ruined."

Improve on ranking

On Malaysia's 39th position in the corruption perceptions index survey conducted by Transparency International (TI), the premier said he hoped to see Malaysia improves its ranking in the international survey.

"Improving Malaysia's score and rank will be a challenge because, ultimately, these are based on perceptions. Nevertheless, my administration will continue to do what is necessary to ensure that perceptions and opinions are continuously improved," he said.

"For a small country like Malaysia, the perception of corruption or inefficiency is something that we simply cannot afford."

Asked at a press conference later, Abdullah said he disagreed with the view of Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who said at the same forum yesterday that offering better wages to civil servants will help in fighting corruption.

"I don't think that's really the answer. If the person is corrupt, he will always be corrupt, even if he has millions in his pocket," he said, adding that the government has been fair to civil servants on their current wages.

The two-day forum was jointly organised by the IIM, the ACA, the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute and the International Institute for Public Ethics.