Corruption watchdogs today applauded Malaysia's decision to shift more than 100 frontline Customs officers from their posts in a lightning operation to wipe out graft.

Customs director-general Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid told the New Straits Times that most of the officers would be removed from critical positions in the nation's ports and installed in new posts by next Tuesday.

"All officers, regardless of rank, must be clean, seen to be clean and smell clean. If our delivery system is weak, it will result in other shortcomings and these will chase away our clients or investors," he said.

Transparency International Malaysia welcomed the changes at the customs and excise department which it said was known worldwide as corruption-prone, and said the move showed the government's commitment to tackling graft.

"A department staffed with personnel with experience and integrity will reduce loss of revenue much needed for development and socio economic needs of disadvantaged sectors of society," it said in a statement.

"Wiping out corruption will enhance efficiency of the delivery system and quality of goods and services."

'I really hated it'

Rahman said he had become increasingly irritated with complacency and laziness in the department, where some officers had been in the same job for more than a decade.

"I really hated it when I found out, for instance, that letters from my office took up to two weeks to reach state offices. That is unacceptable," he told the daily.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2004, but he has been criticised for failing to make substantial headway with few high-profile arrests.

Transparency International said last October that corruption remains widespread in Malaysia and that Abdullah must demonstrate greater political will to stamp it out.