KUALA LUMPUR: A corruption watchdog group said the public must play their role in ensuring the effectiveness of the newly launched National Anti-Corruption Strategies (NACS) 2024 –2028.
Transparency International Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said this is to ensure accountability and foster a culture of integrity across all sectors of society.
He lauded the initiative as the country is on the right path to achieve its target of becoming one of the top 25 nations in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) within the next 10 years.
"The index (CPI) is based on how people perceive corruption in this country. The people must feel that reforms have taken place to combat corruption.
"We cannot rely only on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the prime minister to do this.
"All government agencies and civil societies must work together to combat corruption... we need to change," he said when contacted by the NST.
When asked to comment on the difference between the NACS as compared to the current National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023, he said the latter did not have the enforcement power that the former will provide.
"The NACS will ensure that action could be taken to those who failed to adhere to the law."
He said the only disappointment with the NACP is that it failed to include the separation of power between the Attorney-General and the public prosecutor.
The five key strategies outlined in the NACS are education, public accountability, voice, enforcement, and incentives, with 60 sub-strategies to be implemented over five years.
It encompasses politicians, public administration, government procurement, law enforcement, legal and judicial institutions, the private sector, and the public.