PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's rise in the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) rankings reflects the efforts of the Madani government to combat systemic corruption and correct weaknesses in the country's governance structure, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the improvement in Malaysia's rank from 57th in 2024 to 54th position in 2025 was driven by strict enforcement action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, the Inland Revenue Board and the Customs Department, among other measures.
"This includes the success of recovering more than RM15.5bil in national revenue through the seizure of assets, funds and the crackdown on corruption syndicates and leaks that have long affected public finances," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Feb 10).
"The Madani government also does not compromise when the integrity of strategic institutions is questioned.
"Strict action against misconduct and irregularities in the defence sector, in addition to the dismantling of cartels and high-profile corruption, reaffirms the principle that no one is immune from the law," said Anwar.
He added the achievement is also a reminder for the government to redouble efforts to fight corruption in order to restore the people's confidence and ensure that the country's trust is maintained.
According to the CPI 2025 released by Transparency International on Tuesday, Malaysia ranked third among Asean countries, behind Singapore and Brunei, maintaining its relative position within South-East Asia while outperforming several regional peers.
The country's CPI score increased by two points to 52, up from 50 in 2024.
