THE CSO Platform for Reform notes the increase in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index score on Malaysia, which is an increase of three points compared to 47 points in 2022.
However, there is still room for improvement that the Madani government could carry out in order to enhance the elements of transparency and accountability to guarantee good governance.
The CSO Platform for Reform believes that good governance needs to start by empowering the existing institutions in the country to increase the element of transparency.
For example, appointments for positions in government-linked companies and statutory bodies need to go through a transparent appointment mechanism that will ensure that they are answerable to Parliament, to demonstrate the effectiveness of those elements of clean governance.
In addition, the proposed office of the ombudsman, which was announced in May last year by the law minister, should be tabled and established.
With investigative powers to recommend disciplinary action against public servants, the respective heads or departments, the ombudsman will provide checks and balances between the government and the people.
In terms of the judiciary’s perspective, the call to present a bill on the separation of powers between the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the public prosecutor’s office needs to be done to show that there is an effort to improve the legal institution in Malaysia.
With the separation of powers between the AG and PP, the body will not be bound to political decisions and will have the freedom to give legal opinions based on constitutional principles.
This separation of powers also forms the independence of professionalism in the legal process which in turn increases the confidence of Malaysians in our country’s legal system.
In addition, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act is also important in improving national governance in terms of transparency and accountability.
Although it is still in the engagement stage through an initiative by the Legal Affairs Division, this situation shows the openness of the government in strengthening the existing act for the welfare of the people.
This can also ensure that the public service delivery system can be improved and ensure that the public also gets access to more authentic information in a more open and transparent manner from the government through the amendment of Act 88, the Official Secrets Act 1972.
The declaration of assets by ministers and cabinet officers is also necessary and a good practice in showing elements of their transparency and accountability to the people.
The existence of an independent property declaration unit needs to be separated from the Prime Minister’s Department, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Royal Malaysia Police so that the body has full access to the information to facilitate investigations into the declaration.
This model can be seen in Singapore where the country established the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau for the purpose of conducting random audits to verify the accuracy of the property declaration.
While the CSO Platform for Reform commends the government on this improvement, we also recommend a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations, to ensure that the government is really serious about the agenda to achieve zero corruption. – February 1, 2024
The CSO Platform for Reform is a coalition of more than 60 civil society organisations, based in Malaysia, focusing on institutional reforms