The Star - Sept 24, 2008

Malaysia still lagging in Corruption Perceptions Index

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s score in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has not improved this year, according to a survey conducted by Transparency International.

The country’s ranking declined to 47 out of 180 countries in 2008, compared to 36 out of 91 countries in 2001 and 43 out of 179 countries in 2007.

Transparency International Malay-sia said in a statement that this showed that some countries had made better progress than Malaysia.

“The country’s CPI score remained at 5.1, the same as in 2007. The score for Malaysia for the last eight years since 2001 had been between 4.9 (2002) and 5.1 (2005, 2007, 2008).

“This shows that the trend of the CPI for Malaysia has remained mediocre at mid-point, with no improvement over the last eight years,” said the statement.

In South-East Asia, Malaysia ranked second behind Singapore, which scored 9.1 on the index. Last was Myanmar with a score of 1.3.

The statement said a number of high profile cases had dampened public confidence in the integrity of government institutions, such as the V.K Lingam case, alleged corruption cases in government procurement, abuses in land excision and fraud on land transfer, and corruption in business transfers at the local municipality level.

Transparency International, however, commended Malaysia on the setting up of Pemudah, a Special Task Force to Facilitate Business, and the Prime Minister’s initiative to reform the judiciary and the Anti-Corruption Agency.