Malaysians see police as most corrupt, TI finds

Low said the perception on grand corruption has increased. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Malaysians perceived the police to be the most corrupt, topping political parties, civil servants, the private business sector and the judiciary, according to the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) results released today.

The survey, conducted by Transparency International (TI) Malaysia, involved about 1,000 people, 16 year olds and above, with 57 per cent from urban areas and the rest from rural areas. The survey, conducted in July this year, is the seventh edition, an annual report except for the year 2008.

Datuk Paul Low, president of TI Malaysia, said the finding was unusual compared to surveys done in most countries, where political parties top the list, followed by the civil service and the judiciary.

He said in terms of petty corruption cases, the percentage had gone down. It is the perception on grand corruption that has increased.

The survey found that 9 per cent of the participants admitted to have bribed in the past year. It is the same percentage of those in Singapore and slightly higher than those in Hong Kong, at 5 per cent.

The Malaysian figure is lower than the Asia-Pacific average of 18 per cent.

They said they had bribed either a police officer, officers from the registry and permit processing, land, medical services, the state education departments as well as the Customs.

The positive perception of the government’s actions in fighting corruption has jumped, the survey found. Almost 50 per cent thought the government’s actions were effective, 32 per cent were neutral, while only 20 per cent disagreed.

“This is a drastic turnaround from the previous year,” said Low of the positive perception, from 28 per cent.

Although the reasons for such perceptions were not compiled, TI Malaysia said the positive perception could be attributed to the Whistleblower Protection Act, which came into effect on December 12, TI’s Integrity Pacts (IPs) which were supposed be implemented in government procurement in April 2010, as well as “Name and Shame” in the Convicted Corruption Offenders Database on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) website with convicted offenders’ details, among others.

With respect to the level of corruption in the next year, 27 per cent thought the level of corruption will increase, 41 per cent thought it will stay the same, and 25 per cent thought it will decrease, according to the report.

“Although there are good initiatives and the public’s confidence in the government’s actions to fight corruption has jumped, there are unfortunately indications of insufficient political will to eradicate corruption.

“For example, no ‘big fish’ being brought to book, poor progress in identifying and prosecuting culpable persons in the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco, no further action by the Attorney-General against those implicated in the judicial appointment tampering ‘Lingam tapes’ despite the royal commission’s findings and recommendations, the continuing and snowballing practice of awarding mega projects and contracts without open tenders or competitive bidding and IPs yet to be implemented,” Low said.

The group suggested making MACC “more independent and autonomous” and that it should report directly to a parliamentary committee and also be given prosecution powers, similar to a “successful” system in Indonesia.

It also suggested the reforming of political financing and regulation of political parties and elections, as well as public disclosure of politicians’ assets.

The independent body also called for “effective and vigorous” enforcement of existing laws and policies including money laundering and transfers by suspects in high-profile corruption cases.

“TI-M reiterates its call to the government to show political will ‘without fear or favour’ to vigorously fight corruption,” Low stressed.

“A high-income economy can only be achieved where there are efficient delivery systems, where the organs of government and institutions govern and manage the country and its resources professionally, responsibly and with integrity, transparency and good governance, in the interest of the nation and its citizens,” he said.