PRESS STATEMENT – TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA
For Immediate Release
10 February 2026
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: Malaysia Records Improvement
Kuala Lumpur – Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption coalition, today released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which draws on up to 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure perceived levels of public-sector corruption across 182 countries and territories worldwide.
In 2025, Denmark, Finland and Singapore lead the index, with scores that reflect consistently strong governance, institutional integrity and accountability. At the lower end of the index, countries such as South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela remain among the weakest performers, underscoring the close relationship between corruption, conflict and weak institutions.
Malaysia’s CPI score has improved by 2 points in 2025, reflecting a modest but encouraging upward trend compared to previous years. Malaysia’s ranking has also risen among the 182 countries surveyed to 54th globally. This improvement signals that ongoing anti-corruption efforts, enforcement actions and governance commitments are being recognised internationally. However, this progress must be viewed as a step forward rather than a turning point. The challenge now is to sustain and accelerate reforms year on year if Malaysia is to achieve the Prime Minister’s stated goal of becoming a top 25 ranked country in the CPI by 2033.
Several factors may have contributed to the improvement in Malaysia’s CPI score in 2025, including:
- Introduction of the Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023.
- Amendments to the Amendments to the Audit Act 1957 to expand the Auditor-General’s oversight to GLCs / GLICs.
- Introduction of Beneficial Ownership transparency through the Companies (Amendment) Act 2024.
- Sustained anti-corruption enforcement activities against senior public officials and political elites.
- New legislation such as the Government Procurement Bill and Whistleblower Protection Act amendments (2025).
Since taking office, the Madani Government has also introduced or reaffirmed several positive governance commitments, including:
- Launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 which provides a whole-of-government framework
- Formation of the CPI Task Force chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN).
- Institutional reform initiatives such as the drafting of the Freedom of Information Act, formation of Ombudsman Malaysia, reforms to whistleblower protection, and plans to separate the role of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor.
While these developments are welcome, TI Malaysia stresses that significant shortcomings remain, particularly in the pace and depth of institutional and legislative reforms.
Key concerns include:
1- Government Procurement Bill
TI Malaysia notes that while the passage of the Government Procurement Bill is an important step forward, corruption risks in high-value, high-risk, and public-interest procurement may persist if Treasury Circulars do not decisively constrain discretion and institutionalise independent monitoring.
2- Amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010
TI Malaysia remains concerned that without broader disclosure channels and full alignment with UNCAC CoSP Resolution 10/8, whistleblowers may continue to face risks of retaliation and legal exposure despite recent amendments.
3- Political Financing
The continued absence of binding disclosure requirements, contribution limits, and independent enforcement mechanisms allows opaque political funding and undue influence to remain a structural corruption risk.
4- Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs)
TI Malaysia cautions that introducing Deferred Prosecution Agreements without clear limits to corporate offences, exclusion of individuals, and robust judicial oversight may weaken deterrence and undermine public confidence in enforcement outcomes.
5- Integrity and Oversight in Public Procurement
TI Malaysia is concerned about the limited public disclosure of supporting information for major infrastructure and mega projects, including needs assessments, financial justifications, and risk analyses, which undermines transparency and public trust.
6- Defence Procurement and Access to Information
While recognising legitimate national security considerations, TI Malaysia emphasises the importance of adopting the Tshwane Principles, which establish that secrecy must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, and subject to oversight, rather than absolute.
There is also a concern that progress towards achieving the top 25 rank by 2033 remains slow. TI Malaysia would like to reiterate a few key points towards achieving that goal:
- Reform intent must be matched by sustained and credible action.
- Early CPI improvements should be viewed as signals of progress, not systemic change.
- Without effective implementation, rhetoric and policy commitments will lose credibility over time.
- Meaningful progress requires consistent enforcement, independent institutions, and strong whistleblower protection.
The improvement in Malaysia’s CPI score for 2025 should be taken as a signal of potential, not a cause for complacency. The window of opportunity for meaningful reform remains open, given the current political stability and parliamentary majority.
To achieve sustained improvements and realise the vision of a top 25 CPI ranking by 2033, the government must urgently accelerate institutional and legislative reforms, strengthen transparency, and demonstrate consistent political will. TI Malaysia urges the government to act decisively and systematically, as public expectations are high and the cost of inaction will be reflected in both future CPI scores and public trust.
Transparency International Malaysia stands ready to continue engaging constructively with all stakeholders to ensure that this momentum is not lost and that the fight against corruption delivers real and lasting change for the rakyat.
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Note to Editors: For clarification on any and all official statements from Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M), kindly refer to its President, Raymon Ram (raymon@transparency.org.my). For more information on the Corruption Perceptions Index, visit https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi
