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Malaysia to make the push to join ranks of developed economies in 2020

16 October 2019 – Lim Guan Eng, the Minister of Finance said Malaysia is experiencing faster GDP growth in the second quarter relative to the previous one due to the commitment of the PH administration towards institutional reform. He said this to the press at the International Directors Summit 2019 in Kuala Lumpur on 16 October 2019. Lim cites the initiatives under the National Anti-corruption Plan (NACP) in rebuilding public trust in the administration. He said that Malaysia is amongst the most improved countries in the world within the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) released by the World Bank recently, especially in the areas of accountability, government effectiveness, rule of law and anti-corruption. 

GIACC Bent on Erasing Malaysia’s Kleptocrat Tag

15 October 2019 – In an interview with Bernama on 15 October 2019, the Malaysian News Agency, GIACC (Governance, Integrity and Anti-corruption Centre) is determined to rid “Kleptocrat” from the nation’s reputation. Anis Yusoff, the Director-General of GIACC, said that the centre is focused on revamping the public service is needed first. He highlighted, corruption often happens in the procurement departments of the government. He identified that unethical practices had been ingrained in the work culture of some parts of the public sector. GIACC has given the green light to 100 anti-corruption initiatives and an additional 115 initiatives under the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), which was launched in January 2019. 

Security and Public Order Policy to replace 2016 policy

3 October 2019 – THE Security and Public Order Policy (DKKA) will strengthen the Home Ministry’s initiatives to ensure the country’s security and public order are maintained.  Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Alwi Ibrahim said DKKA would replace the Internal Security Policy (DKDN), which was launched in 2016 and has been enhanced to be more effective.

C4- The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the new Security and Public Order Policy (DKKA) to replace the earlier policy that was started by Najib’s Barisan Nasional Administration in 2016. According to the Home Affairs Ministry’s secretary-general Tan Sri Alwi Ibrahim, this new policy consists of 6 core aims which were crossed checked with the “Buku Harapan” or also knowns as the Pakatan Harap Manifesto. The six core aims are:

1. Core 1: Defend supremacy of the Constitution, the law and the main institutions of the nation. (Mempertahankan Keluhuran Perlembagaan, Kedaulatan Undang-undang dan Institusi Utama Negara)
2. Core 2: Improve the administration & Integrity of security/law enforcement agencies (Meningkatkan Tadbir Urus dan Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan Keselamatan 
3. Core 3: To enhance the defence of the border control of the country. (Mengukuhkan Keselamatan Kawalan Sempadan Negara)
4. Core 4: To guarantee the safety and public order of the nation. (Menjamin Keselamatan dan Ketenteraman Awam)
5. Core 5: To combat the menace of drug abuse (Memerangi Gejala Dadah)
6. Core 6: To protect the nation’s strategic interest and assets. (Melindungi Aset dan Sasaran Penting Negara)

Core 2 of the DKKA, shows a serious commitment by the Ministry of Home Affairs to irradicate corruption and enhance the integrity of their enforcement agencies (like the police and the immigration). This commitment suggests the government is keen to improve the reputation of its enforcement agencies. Currently agencies like the police, immigration and customs have been battered with reported cases of corruption and malpractice.  

Download a copy of the Security and Public Order Policy in Bahasa Malaysia at the following link https://www.pmo.gov.my/2019/10/security-and-public-order-policy/

Integrity chief: Malaysia’s war on corruption is coming together

• The Edelman Trust Barometer shows the level of public confidence in the government has risen to 60% in 2019 compared with 46% in 2018.
• The Corporate Governance Watch report showed Malaysia being placed fourth among 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region in 2018, compared with seventh in 2016.
• Malaysia also jumped 22 places to secure the 123rd position on the World Press Freedom Index 2019. Among South-East Asian countries, Malaysia is top on the World Press Freedom Index 2019.

The MACC’s Anti-Corruption Perception Study also showed that the people’s perception of the government’s seriousness in fighting corruption has increased by 11 points from 59.8% in 2016 to 70.8% last year.