The government is committed to wide-ranging reforms to restore public trust and enhance integrity, said Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

He said they encompass greater transparency and accountability in public sector administration, public finance management, procurement, corporate governance, and law enforcement, as well as the advancement of legal reforms.

“Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 paints a sobering picture, with over two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed scoring below 50 percent.

“This raises a fundamental question: Are countries truly embracing good governance practices to eliminate corruption?” he said.

He was delivering his keynote address at the Southeast Asia Anti-Corruption Conference in Putrajaya today.

While Malaysia ranked second among Asean nations in the CPI behind Singapore, Shamsul acknowledged that more must be done.

“There is a need for a solid, robust, and dynamic policy framework that prioritises good governance. We must strengthen collaboration among ministries and agencies to drive productivity growth and improve national competitiveness,” he stressed.

Learn from regional best practices

Meanwhile, Shamsul called today’s conference a platform for Malaysia to showcase ongoing reforms, such as strengthening the MACC, implementing the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), empowering integrity units in public and private sectors, and engaging with regional counterparts to learn and lead.

“This is a valuable opportunity to learn from regional best practices, from collective action models to emerging technologies in corruption detection and asset recovery,” he said.

He said Malaysia also aims to contribute to formulating a regional code of practice grounded in the Jakarta Principles, tailored specifically to the Asean context.

“We must collaborate to build integrity-centred ecosystems through education, youth engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships,” he said.

Addressing stakeholders at the conference, Shamsul paid tribute to the critical role played by various groups in the anti-corruption effort.

“To all anti-corruption agencies, you are the frontliners in this battle. To civil society and NGOs, you are the conscience of our nations. Your role in advocacy, monitoring and community engagement is vital. To the media, in an age of misinformation, ethical journalism is more crucial than ever.

“And to all of us, let us remember - integrity is not a slogan. It is a responsibility. A daily commitment. A legacy we must pass on to future generations,” he said, while urging the Asean nations to turn their collective strength into unified action.

Also present at today’s conference were Indonesia Corruption Eradication Commission chief commissioner Setyo Budianto and representatives from ⁠Austria, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Timor Leste, Mongolia, and Hong Kong.

- Bernama

Eight SEA nations endorse Putrajaya anti-graft declaration

Eight SEA nations endorse Putrajaya anti-graft declaration