73% of Malaysian businessmen say BN govt ineffective in fighting graft

Police, politicians and judiciary among most corrupt : 2008 Bribe Payers

By Wong Choon Mei

As much as 73 percent of senior business executives interviewed in Malaysia said the government was ineffective at fighting corruption outsizing an 18 percent minority who felt that the authorities were a doing reasonable job.

According to the 2008 Bribe Payers Index released by Transparency
International, the Malaysian result was much worse than the Asia Pacific
average of 62 percent.

It also exceeded the 66 percent averaged in 26 developed and non-developed countries that included Argentina, France, Germany, the Phillippines and Singapore which were also surveyed.

“The release of this Index is a timely reminder that Malaysia’s public
perception domestically and abroad of corruption is very poor,” Ramon
Navaratnam, president of Transparency International Malaysia, said in a phone interview.

Police, politicians and judiciary among most corrupt

In the survey, Malaysia businessmen also said the nation’s most corrupt
institution was the police, whom they gave a rating of 4 out of a maximum of 5.

This was followed by political parties at 3.8, registry and permit services
at 3.6. Next was the Customs and Parliament/Legislature which tied at 3.3, while the judiciary scored 3.2.

“Hopefully, the legislation that is being introduced will improve the
perception. However, this in itself will be doubtful unless there is proper
enforcement and implementation. It underlines the need to have the right
people in these commissions and to ensure truence of the agencies,”
Navartnam added.

He was referring to three piece of legislative reforms promised by Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Due to step down in favour of his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak in March 2009,

Abdullah is trying to push through the MACC Bill, the JAC Bill and the
Special Complaints Commission Bill before he retires.

“Here’s what I want to deal with – corruption, judicial appointments
commission and the special complaints commission (on enforcement agencies).
These are the three important areas which I want to focus on because if we don’t address them, this nation will be in trouble,” Abdullah had told the press.

Bills on the table

The MACC or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Establishment Bill will arm the Anti-Corruption Agency with powers to prosecute on most cases, without having to refer to the Attorney-General’s office, which it currently is required to do.

The JAC or Judicial Appointments Commission Bill is aimed at freeing the courts and legal system from political control and manipulation, while the Special Complaints Commission Bill will help in the overhauling of enforcement agencies such as the police, customs and immigration.

Sumber: Suara Keadilan