PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) are considering strategic collaborations, which include plans to host the IACA Regional Summer Academy in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The MACC announced on Thursday (Nov 28) that this topic was discussed between the Malaysian delegation and IACA Dean Prof Slagjana Taseva during the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Agencies in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.
The meeting took place from Nov 26 to 27 in Doha, Qatar.
The Malaysian delegation was led by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
According to the MACC, the meeting demonstrates the significant role and trust placed in Malaysia, evident through the appointment of Azalina as president of the IACA Assembly of Parties (AOP) and the reappointment of Azam as a member of the IACA Board of Governors (BOG) for the 2024-2027 term.
"Malaysia’s participation and dedication to anti-corruption efforts serve to reaffirm the nation's resolve to collaborate with OIC member states to reinforce the principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity at the international level,” it said.
The meeting, co-organised by the OIC and Qatar's Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA), aimed to enhance collaboration among OIC member states in countering corruption.
During the meeting, Azalina reiterated Malaysia's commitment to combating corruption, highlighted through the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028 (NACS).
Azalina also shared Malaysia's progress in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which saw the country rise to the 57th position out of 180 nations last year.
Furthermore, the MACC stated that Malaysia announced measures to boost transparency and governance, including the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act, amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act, and proposals for Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) to tackle corporate corruption cases.
Malaysia was also among the first countries to sign the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Convention, a cooperative anti-corruption agreement that facilitates information exchange, expertise sharing, and capacity building among OIC member states.
This agreement aligns with Malaysia's commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). - Bernama
