Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Government remains steadfast in its commitment to implement wide-ranging governance reforms to restore public trust and enhance integrity across all levels of administration, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said. In delivering his keynote address at the Southeast Asia Anti-Corruption Conference here, he said these reforms encompass greater transparency and accountability in public sector administration, public finance management, procurement, corporate governance, and law enforcement, as well as the advancement of legal reforms.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shamsul Azri highlighted that Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 presents a challenging scenario, with over two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed scoring below 50 percent. This raises a fundamental question about the global commitment to good governance practices aimed at eradicating corruption. While Malaysia ranked second among ASEAN nations behind Singapore, Shamsul Azri acknowledged that more efforts are necessary.
He emphasized the need for a solid, robust, and dynamic policy framework that prioritizes good governance and stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration among ministries and agencies to drive productivity growth and improve national competitiveness.
During the conference, Shamsul Azri described it as a strategic platform for Malaysia to showcase its ongoing reforms, such as the strengthening of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), and the empowerment of integrity units in both public and private sectors. He also highlighted the opportunity to engage with regional counterparts to learn and lead.
Shamsul Azri mentioned Malaysia’s goal to contribute to the formulation of a regional code of practice grounded in the Jakarta Principles, specifically tailored to the ASEAN context. He advocated for collaboration to build integrity-centered ecosystems through education, youth engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
In his address to key stakeholders at the conference, Shamsul Azri acknowledged the critical role played by various groups in the anti-corruption effort. He recognized anti-corruption agencies as frontliners, civil society and NGOs as the conscience of nations, and emphasized the importance of ethical journalism. He urged ASEAN nations to transform their collective strength into unified action, emphasizing that integrity is a responsibility and a daily commitment.
Also present at the conference were Indonesia Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief commissioner Setyo Budianto and representatives from Austria, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Timor Leste, Mongolia, and Hong Kong.