Malaysia’s fight against corruption remains stagnant as the country retained its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of 50 in 2024 during the tenure of the Madani Government, showing no improvement from the previous year, according to Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M). The nation also maintained its 57th position out of 180 countries, despite its ambitious goal of ranking among the top 25 by 2033.
TI-M cited systemic corruption in the public sector, sluggish institutional reforms, and political interference in key institutions—including the judiciary—as the main factors preventing progress. The organization stressed that the government must accelerate structural reforms to enhance transparency, strengthen accountability, and ensure the independence of enforcement bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
A major issue undermining Malaysia’s anti-corruption efforts is the perception of weak law enforcement, fueled by high-profile cases involving discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) and reduced sentences for convicted individuals. Additionally, recent scandals, such as the RM8 million vape smuggling case at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), have intensified concerns over power abuses and the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.
Despite these challenges, TI-M acknowledged that the government has made some progress in financial transparency, implementing anti-corruption strategies, and improving oversight mechanisms for state-linked enterprises. However, the group emphasized that these efforts must be intensified to rebuild public confidence and elevate Malaysia’s standing in global anti-corruption rankings.
To strengthen governance and ensure judicial independence, the report recommended leveraging modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and big data to reduce bureaucracy and minimize corruption risks in public services. By integrating these tools, Malaysia could increase efficiency, promote transparency, and enhance accountability within its institutions.
As Malaysia aims to improve its global corruption ranking, the challenge remains in turning policy commitments into measurable outcomes. Without decisive action and consistent enforcement, the country risks stagnation—or worse, regression—in its anti-corruption ambitions.
Information Source: Malay Mail
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.