The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has set a target. It wants Malaysia break into the top 30 nations in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Index in the next few years.

According to Bernama , ACA director-general Ahmad Said Hamdan said Malaysia’s current ranking was not enough and more must be done.

Transparency International releases its Corruption Index every year. For 2006, Malaysia was ranked 43rd of the 180 nations polled. In 2005, the country was ranked 44 th .

Malaysia had a score of 5.1 points just above the five cut-off point of countries with and without serious corruption problem.

"We must not only think about the harsh punitive action against corruption but also start with wiping out corruption from the root.

"Prevention is better than cure and this is what we have to do when it comes to corruption," said Ahmad Said.

He told this to reporters at the opening of the Anti-Corruption Secretariat for Higher Learning Institutions by Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed in Putrajaya today.

He said Malaysia had to improve its standing in the TI Index not only because corruption could impoverish the nation but also because Malaysia was in the executive board of directors of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.

Ready for elections

On the secretariat, Ahmad Said explained that the idea to set up the anti-corruption secretariat for higher learning institutions was submitted to the government last year.

The idea was mooted after a corruption perception survey by the ACA on university students in 2003 showed 30.5 percent students saying they would take money if offered and abuse power if they had a chance or were in authority.

"This is when we decided the fight against corruption should begin from schools right up to the university level," he said.

He said 20 such secretariats would be established at 20 public universities nationwide.

On a separate matter, Ahmad Said revealed that the ACA is ready for the general election and has set up 17 operations centres nationwide to investigate corruption cases relating to the polls.

"We are ready...we have set up operations rooms in all states with the headquarters in Putrajaya. In case of mismanagement or corruption, they (the public) can report to us and we will investigate and take action if the need arises," he added.

The agency's director of investigations Mohd Shukri Abdull would be heading the ACA's election operations.

The operations centres would operate 24 hours when nearing the polls.