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MALAYSIA’S climb in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index has strengthened the MADANI government’s claim that its crackdown on corruption and governance failures is delivering results, though observers caution that the gains remain incremental.
The country rose three places to 54th in the CPI 2025 rankings, up from 57th a year earlier, with its score improving to 52 points from 50.
While the advance is modest, it marks a continuation of an upward trend that the government says reflects firmer enforcement and institutional reforms.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the improvement showed that efforts to combat systemic corruption and address long-standing weaknesses in governance were beginning to bear fruit.
He said the rise in Malaysia’s ranking was driven in part by decisive action from enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Inland Revenue Board and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
“This includes the success in recovering more than RM15.5 billion in national revenue through asset seizures, funds recovery and the dismantling of corruption syndicates and leakages that have long undermined public finances,” he said in a Facebook post.
Anwar added that the MADANI government would not compromise when the integrity of strategic institutions was questioned, stressing that enforcement had extended even to politically and institutionally sensitive sectors.
The prime minister said firm action against misconduct and abuse in the defence sector, along with the exposure of cartels and high-profile corruption cases, demonstrated that no individual or group was above the law.
“This achievement is also a reminder for us to double our efforts to fight corruption consistently and courageously, in order to restore public confidence and ensure that the nation’s trust continues to be safeguarded,” he said.
Transparency International’s CPI 2025 report, released today, placed Malaysia third among ASEAN countries, behind Singapore and Brunei. The report noted that Malaysia’s score showed a moderate but encouraging improvement compared with previous years.
Despite the progress, Malaysia remains some distance from the government’s longer-term ambition of breaking into the top 25 globally by 2033, a target set by Anwar. Based on current standings, the country needs a further 16-point increase to reach that level.
Universiti Utara Malaysia political analyst Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the latest ranking reflected positive momentum but stressed that the challenge ahead should not be underestimated.
“Yes, it is a good start, but there is still a long way to go to reach the top 25. Malaysia still has time until 2033 to prove it,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said the administration’s emphasis on good governance appeared to be translating into tangible action, particularly when viewed against several high-profile cases that have surfaced recently.
Malaysian Corruption Watch president Jais Abdul Karim also described the improvement as welcome, but warned against reading too much into a relatively small shift in rankings.
He said the change suggested that international perceptions of corruption in Malaysia’s public sector had improved slightly in 2025.
“But the increase is marginal, as the CPI moved only three places from last year.
“This is not a major leap, but at least it reflects a positive direction that should be acknowledged.”
Jais cautioned that Malaysia must avoid complacency, noting that the index measures perception rather than the full reality of corruption.
“The index reflects perception, not the full reality of all forms of corruption.
“This modest improvement indicates there is still significant room for reform.
“MCW stresses that global standing must be supported by stronger scores across key indicators, including administrative transparency, the operational independence of anti-corruption bodies and the effectiveness of the legal system.”
Analysts said the latest CPI results highlight both the credibility the government has gained through enforcement and the scale of reforms still needed if Malaysia is to meet its ambition of becoming one of the world’s least corrupt countries within the next decade. - February 11, 2026