KUALA LUMPUR: Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) hopes that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's assurance that action will be taken against stubborn civil servants embroiled in corruption will become a reality.
"TI-M hopes that Anwar's words will be translated into firm action which can produce the desired results.
"This includes improved accountability from the public sector, reduced leakages due to corruption and increased returns on public expenditure," said its president Dr Muhammad Mohan
He said for starters perpetrators who continue with corrupt practices should be removed from the system.
"Culprits who abuse their position need to be dealt with firmly, and removing them from the system will be a good start."
In the long run, TI-M believes that Anwar's hardline stance against corruption in the government can be impactful to the country's economy.
"Looking into the future, it can bring benefits to the country's economy which translates into improving our attractiveness as a destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)."
He also said Anwar's emphasis was also timely, given Malaysia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores have been steadily deteriorating over the last few years.
"TI-M also urges everyone subject to such abuses to play their part in fighting corruption by reporting it to MACC," he said.
Anwar in his speech at the 'Munajat Ambang Tahun Baru' programme at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya yesterday reiterated ridding the civil service of the small number of corrupt people who stubbornly solicit and accept bribes.