Transparency International (TI) support the call by the Sultan of Selangor for immediate action to be taken to check corruption, bureaucratic red tape, race problems, religious intolerance, brain drain and crime in the country.

In a media statement today, TI Malaysia president Dr Ramon Navaratnam said: "TI Malaysia lauds the public pronouncement of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah that graft is akin to cancer in society and it should be effectively checked if not wiped out."

"TI Malaysia believes the government has to step up efforts to enhance transparency in business dealings, public contracts procurement and operations of government in all levels and statutory agencies," he added.

He said the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) set up to fast-track procedures and transactions between the government and the private sector is one commendable effort.

However, he said the government has to exercise much greater political will to address pressing issues in order to make Malaysia more efficient and competitive.

Ramon also urged the government and the private sector to strengthen their commitment to promote good governance, transparency, accountability and integrity in all aspects of public life in Malaysia.

Racial unity

In an interview published in the Star yesterday, the sultan said the people are still concerned about corruption.

Expressing his concern over the country's brain drain, the Sultan said: "No one, irrespective of his race, should be denied any opportunities. I am sad to see good people being lost to other countries."

His majesty said Singapore was the greatest benefactor and that even the Singapore National Library was designed by a Malaysian.

In another case, he said, a highly qualified Malaysian academic was not accepted by local universities but was invited by the National University of Singapore to head a department.

On race relations, he called for the young to have friends from other races, saying this was important.

"Islam respects other religions and other religions must also respect Islam," he said, adding that multiracialism must be instilled at primary school level.

"If there is a need to re-evaluate our school system, then our authorities must do so to promote better racial harmony," he said.

Sultan Sharafuddin is the second royal to come forward to highlight the lack of unity among the citizens of the country after Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah.

Raja Nazrin, in his keynote address to students at the First Malaysian Student Leaders Summit 2007 on Aug 5, deplored the lack of national unity and commented that, 50 years after Independence, the country is still grappling with concerns about unity.