SHAH ALAM - Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) describes the statement made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s top gun over the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) as a misunderstanding.
Its President Dr Muhammad Mohan said the statement made by MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki that the CPI was merely a ‘perception’ was a mistake, especially how the index had been obtained and its effectiveness in measuring the level of corruption in a country.
He said since the index was first released in 1995, Transparency International (TI) had never released any statements that stated the CPI was an accurate measure of corruption.
"I repeat, never. The CPI act as an index that functions as an indicator that could be measured in providing a help signal for what is happening in the country, each of which is closely related to the problem of corruption should be given to authorities such as MACC.
"In spite of the negative voices about the CPI, many welcomed the results of the CPI report by urging it to become a guide for improving Malaysia’s position, thus achieving the goals of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP),” he said in a statement on Monday.
CPI 2021 was announced earlier this year, which witnessed Malaysia ranked at 62 with a score of 48.
Malaysia’s CPI had declined for two consecutive years, which prompted a corruption monitoring body to come forward and criticised the Malaysian CPI Report.
Recently, the media reported Azam stating that the CPI released by TI was only a perception and not a true measurement of corruption practices in a country.
Mohan said several critiques from a few parties accused the announcement of CPI by TI-M as an unjust action that brought down the image of the country.
However, he stated the issue was not the intention of any agencies that produced the index that became a reference on an international level.
He explained some parties criticised the CPI by throwing various questions at TI-M and recommended that Malaysia set aside the CPI survey as some countries did.
"Polemics about the CPI involving Malaysia should be viewed from a positive point of view rather than inviting us out of it because we can’ operate it well.
"This is not the first time some have denounced CPI results in the country. Looking into the backgrounds of the critics, TI-M is sceptical as to why they chose not to accept the fact that Malaysia’s position in the CPI has fallen.
"But the same person will also be quick to cheer when Malaysia’s ranking is said to be good, as was the case for the 2019 report when Malaysia for the first time rose in the score from 47 to 53 and raised in the ranks from 61 to 51 out of 180 countries in the world.
"At the time, all parties accepted the CPI wholeheartedly,” he said.
He added the maturity of a country is measured by its ability to accept bitter results and then think deeply in unity about how to improve the country’s position.
Therefore, he said, the important question was to ask how was it in 2019 Malaysia scored 53 from 47 in the previous year, but then failed for two consecutive years.
"Whether we like it or not, the Malaysian government fixed the position on CPI in 2019 is a proud achievement.
"This shows that we have the knowledge and experts that were responsible for determining the plans and policies related to integrity, governance and anti-corruption.
"They understood what needed to be done and successfully restored the image of the country around the world. This is empirical proof that can’t be refuted by any party that Malaysia could become among the best countries in the Corruption Perception Index,” he said.