THE National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028, unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 7, is a continuation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), which was established in 2019 to strategise all efforts in addressing issues related to governance, integrity and corruption.
The primary distinction between NACP and NACS is that the former is geared towards public and private sector management, including public administration, politics, procurement, law and the judiciary, enforcement and corporate governance.
On the other hand, NACS prioritises the welfare of the people through the Malaysia Madani agenda, which aims to make the country a prosperous and corrupt-free nation.
Like its predecessor, the five-year plan identifies five main methods as the government's main tool in fighting corruption and bolstering governance in day-to-day operations, namely education, public accountability, voice, enforcement and incentives.
Although it may sound ambitious, the NACS's breadth, depth and scope of reforms are genuine; Malaysians deserve nothing less.
For Malaysia to become a developed country free of corruption, its effective execution is essential.
That being said, the NACS is not just a list of "nice to have", but a "need to do" list.
The government's proactive measures, which place a high priority on fighting corruption for the benefit of the country, have directed MACC to mobilise the creation of NACS.
The move includes putting identified strategies in governance, integrity and anti-corruption parameters into practice backed by lead agencies.
As one of the 19 heads of lead agencies, MACC is accountable in overseeing the execution of some sub-strategies, but its primary function is to supervise the execution of all defined sub-strategies.
Under NACS, there are two distinct strategies: Voice and Incentives.
When it comes to representing the voice of the people, NACS focuses a lot on the government's collaboration with various entities, such as businesses, non-governmental organisations, religious institutions and the private sector.
When the government offers more rewards to citizens and entrepreneurs — such as rebates and income tax reductions — in exchange for their participation in anti-corruption campaigns, the incentives become alluring.
To honour their contributions in uncovering wrongdoing, whistleblower reward allowances, as well as other benefits received later on, will be revaluated.
Malaysia's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) performance for last year was released by Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) on Jan 30.
Compared with 2022, when it had a score was 47, the country's latest CPI increased by three points to 50. Malaysia's CPI ranking also improved, climbing four places from 61st in 2022, to 57th last year out of 180 nations.
The country's goal to rank among the top 25 countries in the CPI within the next 10 years was set by the prime minister in the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review, which was presented to Parliament on Sept 11 last year.
A CPI Special Task Force was formed to explore and identify strategies for raising Malaysia's CPI standing and achieving the goal of ranking in the top 25 nations within the next 10 years.
The task force, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, recently convened on Oct 3.
Its nine members included five experts from different sectors related to the surveys used in assessing the CPI, as well as the secretaries-general of ministries and heads of department.
The task force's mandate included reviewing and assessing the findings of the nine surveys that were used to gather data for the nation, as well as implementing institutional, legislative and policy reforms to improve Malaysia's CPI score and ranking.
Through the prime minister-led Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance (JKKTN), several policies and initiatives involving legislative reform and governance were decided upon to increase the effectiveness of public service delivery.
Some of the initiatives and policies are as below.
TO replace the General Circular No. 3 of 1998, the Prime Minister's Department's Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) issued Guidelines on the Management and Governance of Federal Statutory Bodies (BBP) on April 30 this year. A few aspects of the BBP were all strengthened by this new guideline.
ON May 20 this year, the Prime Minister's Directive No. 1 of 2023 regarding the Governance of State-Owned Enterprises (SBK) and Company Limited By Guarantee (CLBG) was released. Its purpose is to guide the Ministry of Control in implementing rules and procedures pertaining to the management and governance of SBK and CLBG.
TO prevent the exploitation of letters of support for personal advantage, Guidelines on Handling Support by Members of the Administration in government dealings were introduced on May 21 this year.
A NEW law should be adopted to regulate the Federal Statutory Bodies (BBP) and the businesses that fall under it. The goal of this law is to enhance the BBP's governance legally, with a focus on investments, loans, and the creation of subsidiaries.
THE formation of a task force under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to carry out the Study Committee's recommendations on Cases of Death in Custody and Identifying Proposed Preventive Measures.
THE drafting of the Freedom of Information Bill.
THE drafting of a Government Procurement Bill.
THE amendment to the Trustee Act 1949 [Act 208] and the Trustee (Incorporation) Act 1952 [Act 258] to stop existing trustee bodies from misappropriating funds, including for welfare and social objectives.
TO encourage the certification of the MS ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) by all G7 Grade Contractors, as these companies will be given priority when bidding on government projects worth RM100 million and above for the first two years. The MACC Act of 2009's Section 17A, which addresses corporation liability, is likewise supported by this.
The government strongly believes that the full commitment shown by its agencies, stakeholders, and domestic and international strategic partners towards effective policy implementation will contribute to the realisation of building an accountable and transparent nation.
The writer is the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission