Hoping to be rid of ‘kleptocracy’ label with NACP

PUTRAJAYA: With the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023, Malaysia aims to shrug off its infamous tag of “klepto­cracy” and become a country known for integrity.

Wrongdoing involving procurement (42.8%) topped the list of sectors prone to corruption, based on complaints received by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) between 2013 and last year.

This is followed by enforcement at 23.9%, administration (13.4%), and licensing and permits at 8.6%. The same survey also revealed that 63.3% of complaints involved the public sector, making it the most vulnerable sector to corruption.

To rectify this, the plan outlined six strategies and 115 initiatives to rid identified areas – politics, public procurement, law enforcement, public sector administration, legal and judicial as well as corporate government – of corruption.

Some of the initiatives have been put in place. This included asset declaration by Pakatan Harapan lawmakers and members of the administration, gift policy, placing the National Audit Department under Parliament as well as political appointments in government-linked companies.

To ensure transparency in financing political parties, a plan is being drawn to legislate political funding. The government has been given two years to realise this.

In the public sector administration, the plan is to enforce mandatory job rotation for public servants holding sensitive posts; to manage the involvement and appointment of senior government officials as board members in state-owned enterprises and statutory bodies; and to improve the vetting process of appointing officials to high-risk positions.

For procurement, the Finance Ministry will introduce a policy on disclosure of conflicts of interest during the procurement process as well as a more transparent mechanism to prevent information leakage.

For law enforcement, the Home Ministry is set to curb malfeasance in the Immigration Department through internal controls; to improve the foreign workers centralised mana­gement system; and to set up an Inde­pendent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

Also included as one of the 115 initiatives is the establishment of separate parliamentary-select committees to oversee the MACC, Ombudsman Malaysia (previously known as Public Complaints Bureau) and the Election Commission.

The time frame given is five years.

This initiative is on Pakatan’s election manifesto for GE14.

“The plan aims to uphold the rule of law, to improve the government’s efficiency, transparency and accountability based on good governance. It is aimed at creating a clean business environment for Malaysia,” said the NACP.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Journey began in 2004 with the National Integrity Plan, and six years later saw the birth of the Government Transformation Programme, followed by the Government Transformation Programme 2.0 in 2012.

The plan also sets other goals, including increasing its current score of 0.54 in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index to 0.63 by 2023. It also aims to achieve 90% in the Corruption Conviction Rate by 2023.

Another goal is to be ranked fifth by 2023 in the Global Competitiveness Report under the efficiency and responsiveness in public service delivery category.

“Over the past few years, Malaysia has undergone tough times and faced massive issues in efforts to fight corruption. Such disastrous conditions will no longer continue in years to come,” it said.