Sept 2012-Mar 2013 - Transparency International Malaysia

Corruption issues take a back seatStrangely, for all the talk about howcorruption has badly affected thecountry, it seems to have garnered lessthan deserved attention by both partymanifestos. In the fourth of our seriescomparing the manifestos KiniBiz takesa detailed look into how both PakatanRakyat and Barisan Nasional proposedto deal with this pressing issue.It’s all about unfinished business.When Malaysian stock market investors want a clue onwhat the 13th General Election (GE) factor may do to theirinvestments, they need look no further back than the lastGE. The market caved in when news broke that oppositioncoalition Pakatan Rakyat had made unexpected headway bydenying Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority in Parliamentand taking five states, the biggest election setback for theruling party ever.Why do investors fear a change of government if Malaysia’seconomy is such a dynamic, private-sector driven runawaysuccess as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak often boasts?If Transparency International’s survey released last year oncorruption is accurate, one in two businessman already knowthe answer. If you don’t pay a bribe in Malaysia, you losebusiness, they say. Its all about corruption – which somepeople say helps oil the wheels of business, even if it is atconsiderable cost.“An overall anti-corruption strategy is urgently needed butit is missing in both manifestos,” Transparency InternationalMalaysia (TI-M)’s secretary general Josie Fernandez said.“Corruption is endemic and its consequences to society andthe country are immense and devastating.”In fact, Fernandez said that whatever laundry list economicsthe manifestos promise would have limited impact if thenext Malaysian government does not first seriously tacklecorruption.Pakatan’s manifesto promises to free the anti-corruptioninstitutions. “Freeing up important institutions such as the“Any government which is seriousabout corruption must do it all togetheras a comprehensive attack and not apiecemeal approach. Most importantly,they must show genuine powerfulpolitical will.” Ramon NavaratnamRamon NavaratnamJosie Fernandezjudiciary, Attorney General (A-G)’s chambers, Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) and Royal Malaysian PoliceForce (PDRM) from political control…. within the first sixmonths,” its manifesto said.BN’s manifesto promises only upgrades. BN promises toempower the MACC through the establishment of a ServiceCommission to recruit its own personnel. Additional courtswill be set up and access to A-G reports sped up.“Any government which is serious about corruption must doit all together as a comprehensive attack and not a piecemealapproach. Most importantly, they must show genuinepowerful political will,” Ramon Navaratnam, a veteran civilservant and prominent economist said.12