[COLUMNIST] Malaysia’s unending battle against corruption

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his administration have publicly pledged a renewed commitment to eradicating graft. High-profile moves such as reinforcing institutional integrity, collaborating with international anti-corruption agencies like International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) and calling for judiciary reform, have been vocalized in speeches and policy papers.

However, rhetoric has failed to translate into visible bottom-line progress. Despite these pronouncements, Transparency International (TI) latest report still places Malaysia at the same spot compared to previous years. When leaders trumpet and launch awareness campaigns, we must ask: are these slogans or the first bricks of real change?

Bribery Among the Giants

Recent high-profile arrests illustrate persistent systemic flaws. Recently, MACC arrested a contract manager and three others over alleged RM180 million bribes tied to a data-centre procurement. Authorities seized RM7.5 million cash, luxury watches, jewellery and remnants of nearly RM1 million in partially burnt banknotes. Investigators suggest a chilling formula - a 2.5 per cent bribe per tender for six award-winning bids. Such brazen corruption at high levels confirms that while officials may speak sweet words, the rot runs deep and remains unchecked.

Majlis Belia Malaysia (MBM), in a recent “RuangBelia: Dari Tahu ke Tindak – Lawan Rasuah!” forum organised by think tank, Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (MASA), labelled corruption and drug abuse as major threats to the youth. MBM president Izzat Afifi warned of a generation at risk, stating that unless these twin evils are checked, Malaysia’s future leadership could be permanently tainted.

Complementing these concerns, Senator Datuk Seri Profesor Emeritus Dr Awang Sariyan, MASA Honorary Fellow and Member of MACC Special Committee on Corruption (JKMR) urged the government to study strategies used by countries with the lowest corruption rates in the world and implement them in Malaysia. Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and Singapore, he said were models worth emulating.

Why The Shift Hasn't Happened

Malaysia remains in the mid-tier category of TI Corruption Perceptions Index. This stagnation suggests that while anti-corruption rhetoric has increased, the structural and institutional reforms needed to deliver real change, have not been adequately implemented.

While it is true that institutional integrity units have been established across various enforcement and administrative bodies including the police and local councils, these units often operate without genuine autonomy or enforcement power. In many cases, they are still subject to political influence or lack the resources and legal mandate to pursue cases independently.

Perhaps most notably, the judiciary, one of the most critical pillars of a functional anti-corruption framework, continues to be perceived by the people as politically intertwined. Judicial appointments are often viewed as being influenced by political interests rather than strictly based on merit or independence, which erodes public confidence in the impartiality and effectiveness of legal proceedings related to corruption.

Malaysia continues to prioritise anti-corruption narratives over actual enforcement. The prevailing culture leans more toward public condemnation than meaningful legal action. Government officials and public figures are quick to denounce corruption in public forums but the follow-through in terms of investigations, prosecutions, and especially convictions, remains weak. Many corruption cases either stall during investigation or are dropped due to insufficient evidence or procedural flaws.

Even in instances where arrests are made, few result in harsh penalties. This not only undermines the credibility of enforcement agencies like MACC but also signals to the public that certain individuals are untouchable.

In essence, Malaysia’s anti-corruption framework continues to be hampered by superficial changes, weak political will and a focus on optics over outcomes. Unless the government confronts these deficiencies head-on with bold reforms, independent oversight and unwavering enforcement, the country’s position on global index will remain unchanged, and the people’s trust in the nation’s governance structure will continue to deteriorate.

Turning Strategy Into Substance

If Malaysia is to make genuine progress in the fight against corruption, it must move beyond rhetoric and adopt a series of concrete, systemic reforms.

As emphasised by Awang, Malaysia should study and adopt successful anti-corruption models from countries that consistently rank among the least corrupt in the world. For example, New Zealand’s strong institutional independence, Singapore’s centralised and uncompromising prosecution of corruption cases and Denmark’s robust transparency and accountability mechanisms offer practical lessons that Malaysia can adapt to its own context. These nations demonstrate that sustained political will, institutional strength and legal clarity are key to achieving results.

One of the most important reforms lies in strengthening the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). Legal amendments should be introduced to guarantee that judicial appointments are based solely on merit, free from political interference or partisan influence.

A judiciary that operates independently and fairly is essential in restoring public trust in the legal system and ensuring that corruption cases particularly those involving high-level individuals are adjudicated without bias or fear.

The MACC must be granted greater autonomy, both operationally and financially, to enable it to function without undue political pressure. This includes securing independent budget allocations, ensuring protection for whistleblowers and granting the commission full authority to pursue all corruption cases to their conclusion, especially those involving politically connected individuals or large-scale government projects.

Efforts to engage Malaysian youth must go beyond mere slogans. Anti-corruption education should be integrated into the school curriculum to foster values of integrity and accountability from a young age. At the same time, the government should encourage the formation of youth-led integrity watchdogs and civic accountability initiatives. These initiatives will empower young Malaysians to take active roles in combating corruption within their communities and public institutions.

Public procurement remains one of the most corruption-prone sectors in Malaysia. Some 70 percent of the complaints received by MACC from January to July 2024 were related to public procurement - an increase to 69 per cent in 2023 from 67 per cent in 2022. To address this, the government should start by fully digitising the tendering process in all sectors and providing real-time access to tender information for public scrutiny.

Transparent procurement procedures must be coupled with strict enforcement of anti-collusion and anti-graft regulations. By doing so, Malaysia can significantly reduce the opportunities for corruption in large-scale infrastructure and construction projects.

The government should pass and enforce a comprehensive Freedom of Information law that guarantees the public’s right to access information about government spending and decision-making.

Such a law will empower journalists, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens to act as independent watchdogs, promoting transparency and accountability across all levels of governance. Open access to information will transform anti-corruption efforts from slogans into enforceable and observable practices.

Malaysia continues stagnation in addressing corruption despite repeated statements from the administration and the launch of numerous polished campaigns. Countries that have successfully advanced economically and socially do not rely on slogans alone. They built transparent systems, established independent oversight bodies and held individuals accountable regardless of their ranks or political connections.

If Malaysia remains satisfied with merely the appearance of anti-corruption efforts while neglecting substantive action, it faces serious consequences of economic decline. Persistent corruption will deter foreign and domestic investment, inflate operational costs and compel businesses to factor in bribery instead of focusing on innovation and growth.

When citizens witness impunity and favouritism, confidence in public institutions diminishes, leading to widespread disillusionment, cynicism and potentially, civil unrest.

Malaysia must also deal head-on with the growing disinterest among Malaysian youth. Without their active participation in civic life, the next generation leadership pipeline weakens significantly.

Only through bold and uncompromising structural reforms can Malaysia escape this cycle of rhetoric without results. Slogans are not enough. The nation must embody these ideals through real action, urgently and decisively.

* Mohamed Azmi Mohd Rasheed Khan is the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (MASA). ** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.