The government is formulating a more objective corruption perception index to gauge the actual level of corruption here, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz today.

The index would also be used to map out more effective strategies to tackle corrupt practices in the country, he told the Dewan Rakyat.

"We will also look at existing index being used at international level," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The minister was replying to a question from Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Star).

Meanwhile, Nazri said the government has no plans to place the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) under Parliament as the agency had shown its credibility to function independently and conduct investigations without interference.

"I believe the ACA is free to discharge its duties and responsibilities without any directive from the government to look into any specific cases," he said replying to a supplementary question from Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor).

Low salary

He also said the ACA was exploring investigations in the field of forensics, computer forensics, accountancy and engineering for which training is being offered at the Malaysian Corruption Prevention Academy.

The academy, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, was set up to provide training and courses to improve ACA officers investigative skills.

Replying to Donald Peter Mojuntin (BN-Penampang), Nazri said ACA officers would also be sent abroad for training.

Nazri also said the Public Service Department is considering requests to recruit more ACA officers and open branch offices in the states.

The minister explained that ACA conducted its investigations discreetly so as not to jeopardise the case apart from protecting the person being investigated.

"When a complaint is lodged, it is not the right of the complainant to be constantly updated on the progress of investigations," he said.

He also denied that low salary was the cause for ACA officers to be slow in acting on a complaint or to start an investigation.

Replying to a supplementary question from Rosli Mat Hassan (BN-Dungun), Nazri said measures are being taken to boost ACA officers' efficiency and performance.