Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president revealed that Malaysia’s ranking in CPI 2024 has remained stagnant at the 57th spot, out of 180 countries, after it again scored 50 points. Topping the list was Denmark with 90 points while Singapore was third (84 points), Indonesia was 100th (37 points), and Thailand came in at 111th (34 points).
TI-M believed that the score was due to several factors, including
revised jail sentences and fines on high-profile cases, and the high number of
“discharges not amounting to acquittals” (DNAAs) given for high-profile cases.
On the alleged corruption involving Sabah elected representatives and
whether this could have caused the stagnant performance. TI-M was of the view
this may not have been captured when determining the score. That could mean we
should have been higher than 57!
The authorities’ alleged
slow action over the scandal, remains a challenge under the current
Whistleblower Protection Act. The law specifies that a whistleblower can only
be protected when he or she complains to enforcement agencies not to other
third parties.
Since November, Malaysiakini published
a series of articles about several Sabah leaders who allegedly took bribes from
a businessperson in exchange for their support for a mineral exploration
licence to be granted. Sabah’s Chief Minister dismissed the allegations and
said the videos implicating the assemblypersons were edited, though he later
suggested that it may have captured discussions about political donations
rather than bribes.
Why do corruption cases of elites seem to end in legal limbo instead of accountability? Are there two standards? One for the billions ripped-off and another for a Milo tin? We have a long way to go. And the road is hard and the will is weak. PMX came in with Reformasi but to-date it is difficult to gauge what reforms he has done. It doesn’t take too much to understand that we need a new MACC chief and Parliament oversees it; a revised Whistleblower Protection Act: establish a high-level Corrupt Cases Court and tabulate a yearly progress report for public consumption.
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