Unity govt to launch National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028

PM to launch initiative that will replace National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023, increasing efforts to prevent corruption

MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki says the launch of Malaysia's National Anti-Corruption Strategies 2024-2028 on May 7, demonstrates the government's commitment to combating corruption and improving governance and integrity in public service administration. – Azim Rahman/Scoop file pic, May 5, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya will launch a new anti-corruption strategy on Tuesday to improve governance and integrity in public service administration and government-related companies (GLCs).

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 will replace the National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said in a statement today.

“NACS will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on May 7,” he said.

The launch will be attended by cabinet members, the chief secretary to the government, secretaries-general of ministries and state government secretaries, as well as directors-general and the heads of GLCs.

NACS is part of the government’s efforts to develop a national strategy to fight corruption, in line with Article 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Azam said.

He said the UNCAC stipulates that all member countries, including Malaysia, should produce a document that serves as the main reference for anti-corruption initiatives at the national level.

Azam said NACP has been identified as one of the indirect factors that helped the government improve its rank in the Corruption Perception Index 2019, which saw Malaysia jump from 61st place (2018) to 51st place (2019).

“Based on this factor, the NACS was developed by emphasising five main strategies, which are education, public responsibility, the voice of the people, enforcement, and incentive,” he said.

Azam said MACC’s National Governance Planning Division will establish a thorough mechanism to monitor the implementation of the NACS to ensure the effectiveness of the initiative.

This will see the NACS’s monitoring and assessment report presented at the National Governance Cabinet Special Committee Meeting, chaired by the prime minister, certified before it is presented to the cabinet meeting and Parliament.

He said the MACC, through its National Governance Planning Division, is fully prepared to take on the responsibility of coordinating various plans under the strategies in the NACS.

“MACC places high hopes on getting cooperation from all parties in the implementation of the NACS in the coming five years, in line with the national aspiration – Develop Malaysia Madani,” he said. – May 5, 2024