Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam:
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Reducing bureaucracy and red tape, including approvals for projects, would drastically curb corruption, says Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.
The chairman of Asli Centre of Public Policies said unnecessary red tape was a major cause of corruption as the more red tape and bureaucracy involved, the more the corrupt giver had to pay to untie the red tape.
“The corrupt receiver too likes to introduce more red tape in order to get more bribes. Both sides mutually gain and so corruption thrives and has now sadly become part of Malaysian culture,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 18).
It was reported Monday (Dec 17) that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government would continue to reduce bureaucracy, such as the number of approvals for projects to take off.
Ramon, formerly Transparency Malaysia president and former honorary adviser to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said economic resilience and social stability could not be sustained if there were no drastic measures to stamp out corruption, while efficiency in the public and business sectors should be promoted.
Ramon suggested that the government reduce the size of the public service in order to cut down red tape and bureaucracy, hence speeding up business approvals.
He said less red tape would create more competition space for the private and business sectors.
Ramon also suggested that government-linked companies and related government bodies be opened out to encourage more joint enterprises with closer collaborations from the domestic and foreign private sectors.
“However, there is a need for strong political will and sustained support from the majority of Malaysians to fight red tape and corruption.
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