Budget 2023: Combating corruption is a collective effort, not just PM’s, says Transparency International

PETALING JAYA: Combating corruption must be a collective effort of all law enforcement agencies and cannot be left to the Prime Minister alone, says Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M).

Its president Dr Muhammad Mohan said they welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement during the tabling of the 2023 Budget.

Anwar had said that all government agencies including the Inland Revenue Board, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Police Force are actively investigating corruption cases including the names connected to the Pandora Papers.

He also said that the LHDN would continue to investigate extraordinary wealth in a bid to fight corruption crimes before it is allowed to fester.

"Congratulations to the Prime Minister for making this announcement that these agencies are investigating corruption and the Pandora papers.

"We have to fight corruption but he cannot do this alone," he said when contacted on Friday (Feb 24).

He added that all enforcement agencies must investigate and arrest the corrupt and have them charged.

"Malaysians must rise up and speak up strongly against corruption.

"The announcement that the Whistleblower Protection Act will be amended this year to give greater protection to whistleblowers is commendable as well," he said, adding that the tabling of the Public Procurement Act this year was also timely.

The Pandora Papers refers to an investigation report released in October 2021 by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in which over 11.9 million confidential financial documents were leaked from 14 financial services companies worldwide.

The leak exposed the secret offshore accounts of world leaders, including current and former presidents, prime ministers, heads of state, billionaires, celebrities, and business leaders, with two Malaysians among the 336 global politicians alleged in the report.

On Oct 25, 2021, former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that a federal investigation into the papers would be launched.