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Update1
Singapore shames Malaysia again in the international arena:
Singapore ranked least corrupt country in Asia-Pacific, third in world: Global anti-graft watchdog
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2025
5:08 PM MYT
This is the first time since 2010 that Singapore has won the accolade, beating out New Zealand, which had held that position for 14 years. - ST FILE
SINGAPORE: For the first time in 14 years, Singapore emerged as the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024.
This is according to global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report that was released on Feb 11.
This is the first time since 2010 that the Republic has won the accolade, beating out New Zealand, which had held that position for 14 years.
Transparency International’s report also ranked Singapore the third least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic’s highest position since 2020.
Singapore scored 84 out of a possible 100 on a scale with zero for highly corrupt and 100 for very clean, moving up two spots from the fifth place it achieved in 2023.
The highest score it recorded was 87 in 2012, when the metric was revamped by Transparency International.
According to the anti-graft watchdog’s latest report, the CPI ranked 180 countries and territories according to the levels of public-sector corruption perceived by experts and business people.
Denmark, with a score of 90, topped the overall 2024 index for the seventh consecutive year.
The European country’s score was followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), New Zealand (83) and Luxembourg (81).
According to the report, the CPI highlighted the stark contrast between nations with strong, independent institutions and free, fair elections, and those with repressive authoritarian regimes.
For instance, full democracies have a CPI average of 73, while flawed democracies average 47 and non-democratic regimes just 33.
Urantsetseg Ulziikhuu, Asian regional coordinator at Transparency International, told The Straits Times that a high CPI score does not mean that corruption does not exist in a country, rather that there are strong mechanisms in place to prevent and detect it.
When asked how the graft probe of former transport minister S. Iswaran affected Singapore’s standing on the CPI, Urantsetseg said: “The case of the transport minister shows how at least his actions brought consequences, which is not a given in many countries.”
On Oct 3, 2024, Iswaran was handed a 12-month jail term in a case that saw, for the first time, a former Cabinet minister being sentenced.
He was placed on the Home Detention Scheme on Feb 7 after serving four months of his jail term.
Urantsetseg said: “Singapore is at the top of the region due to the fact that the former champions (New Zealand and Australia) have been sliding down the ranking for the past couple of years.
“Singapore’s score, on the other hand, has stayed stable in the last few years. This says more about the backsliding in those countries than to changes in Singapore.”
Urantsetseg added that one of the challenges Singapore now faces is the influx of illicit financial flows and how this could “end up becoming an issue of public integrity in the future”.
“Nations hosting major financial centres, such as Singapore, are often vulnerable to corrupt financial flows. While their strong institutions give the appearance of integrity, their financial sectors and regulatory frameworks often provide opportunities to exploit loopholes, ultimately undermining global anti-corruption efforts,” she said.
In a press release also issued on Feb 11, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Singapore’s reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world is hard-earned.
Said its spokesman: “Our people continue to hold a strong stance against corruption and will come forward to report wrongdoings to the authorities. CPIB studies all reports and information that may disclose a corruption offence seriously, whether the informant is known or anonymous.”
Wilson Ang, head of Asia regulatory compliance and investigations practice at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, said Singapore’s ranking is a noteworthy achievement.
He said it is significant that during a time of geopolitical tensions and upheaval, Singapore has remained steadfast in its efforts to foster a culture of integrity and crack down on corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.
He added: “Whilst prominent enforcement cases have given rise to questions about illicit conduct taking place in Singapore, the swift and decisive action taken by the Singapore Government sent a clear signal that there is no one above the law and that it would not shy away from enforcing its stringent laws.”
According to the CPI, two in three jurisdictions scored below 50 in 2024, with Transparency International noting that this had huge and potentially devastating implications for global climate action.
It said: “Corruption weakens governance structures, undermines law enforcement and diverts critical climate finance intended to reduce emissions and build resilience.
“In nations where corruption is pervasive, transparency in environmental decision-making is often compromised, leading to unfair outcomes and the destruction of natural resources.”
In May 2024, a risk assessment report by the Singapore authorities linking environmental crimes and money laundering was published, showing how dirty money linked to the illegal wildlife trade can be laundered through Singapore.
That report noted that non-governmental organisations identified Singapore to be a transit country for environmental crimes and dirty money linked to these, given its geographical location and status as a financial centre.
For example, in 2020, a bank in Singapore found that one of its customers had paid $130,000 to a South African supplier for 11 cheetahs.
Though the animals were transported directly from the source country to the destination country and never transited through Singapore, the money passed through the customer’s bank account here.
The bank filed a suspicious transaction report and terminated the customer relationship.
In the CPI report, Transparency International said powerful corporate interests often shape or block climate policies to favour short-term profits over long-term environmental sustainability.
“This leads to watered-down regulations, delays in the transition to renewable energy and insufficient action to meet international climate commitments,” said Transparency International.
It added that without robust national anti-corruption measures, the effectiveness of global climate agreements remains at risk, further jeopardising efforts to combat the climate crisis. - The Straits Times/ANN
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11, 2025: More than two years after becoming Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim’s so-called priority to fight corruption is nothing short of a mockery.
The PMX is the one who submitted the proposal to pardon and free disgraced and shameless former prime minister Najib “1MDB” Razak who stole millions, if not billions, of Ringgit from the rakyat dan negara (people and country).
How more hypocritical can Anwar be?
Is it any wonder Malaysia’s slow reforms (if any), high profile Discharge Not Amounting To Acquittal (DNAA) have also affected any improvement on its graft index score?
No News Is Bad News reproduces below news reports on Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M)’s stagnant ranking and score in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI):
TI-M points to slow reforms, high-profile DNAAs after stagnant graft index score
-11 Feb 2025, 02:20 PM
The group says businesses still feel that corruption is an issue in the public sector, while DNAAs in high-profile cases sparked the perception of political interference.
Transparency International Malaysia said there was still a high number of crackdowns on corrupt public officials by graft busters.
PETALING JAYA: Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) today attributed Malaysia’s stagnant ranking and score in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to several reasons, including the slow pace of institutional reforms by the government.
The anti-graft group said Putrajaya had been lacking in institutional reforms despite its strong and repeated emphasis on good governance and reforms.
It noted several deficiencies such as the failure to table bills on political financing, freedom of information and public procurement, as well as to separate the roles of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.
TI-M said there were also a number of high-profile cases where the accused were granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
“This creates the perception of political interference in the judiciary or in the prosecution,” it said in a statement, without naming specific cases.
It also said the revision of jail terms and fines after convictions by the apex court created the perception of political interference. While TI-M again gave no names, it is understood to be referring to former prime minister Najib Razak.
Najib had his 12-year jail sentence in the SRC International case halved to six years and his RM210 million fine reduced to RM50 million by the Federal Territories Pardons Board in February 2024.
TI-M said another possible reason for Malaysia’s stagnant score and ranking was that businesses still saw graft as an issue in the public sector, with the practice of soliciting and giving bribes continuing.
It said there appeared to be no progress in two graft cases involving companies, namely Pristine Offshore Sdn Bhd and Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd.
In March 2021, Pristine Offshore became the first commercial organisation to be charged with corruption. The company was charged with giving bribes to obtain a ship leasing contract worth RM321,350.
In June last year, Hydroshoppe director Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh was charged with offering an annual bribe of RM500,000 over 15 years to ex-minister Annuar Musa to acquire the KL Tower concession.
TI-M also said there was still a high number of crackdowns on corrupt public officials by graft busters, such as the recent arrest of KLIA customs officers involving the smuggling of vapes worth RM8 million.
Unity govt’s achievements
The group nonetheless acknowledged several achievements by the Anwar Ibrahim-led administration, including the introduction of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act and launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in June last year.
It also credited the government with giving the auditor-general the authority to audit companies, amending the Trustee Act to curb malpractice, and amending the Companies Act to mandate the disclosure of beneficial ownership and improve transparency.
It said the unity government must accelerate institutional reforms moving forward in order to improve its score and rank in the next CPI.
“TI-M reiterates that the government should seriously consider improving the Integrity Pact to international standards by establishing independent oversight for mega projects to ensure that taxpayers’ money is properly spent,” it said.
Malaysia maintains graft index score in 2024
-11 Feb 2025, 01:29 PM
Malaysia’s ranking among 180 countries surveyed remains at 57th, as in 2023.
Malaysia scored 47 points in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index in 2022, 48 in 2021 and 51 in 2020. (EPA Images pic)
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has maintained its ranking and score in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), scoring 50 points as it did in 2023.
In the anti-graft group’s latest report, Malaysia’s ranking among the 180 countries surveyed remained at 57th, the same as in 2023.
The CPI uses a scale of 0 (perceived as being highly corrupted) to 100 (perceived as being very clean).
Malaysia scored 50 points in 2023, 47 in 2022, 48 in 2021 and 51 in 2020.
Denmark topped the index this year with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), New Zealand (83), and Luxembourg (81).
Other regional neighbours were ranked much lower than Malaysia, including Vietnam (88th with 40 points), Indonesia (99th-37 points), Thailand (107th-34 points), and the Philippines (114th-33 points).
In a press release, Transparency International Malaysia said it was noteworthy that Malaysia had not dropped in its score or ranking, but reminded Putrajaya that its goal was to be among the top 25 countries by 2033.
“To be there, we need to score 68 to 70 points, which means we must improve our score by at least two points every year,” it added.
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