FOUR LEGAL REFORMS SIGNAL MALAYSIA’S SERIOUS PUSH TO IMPROVE CPI SCORE

By Ahmad Erwan Othman

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- The government’s commitment to table four major legal reforms in Parliament this year is seen as a clear signal of Malaysia’s seriousness in strengthening institutional integrity and governance, with the potential to improve the country’s standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Deputy Director-General (Policy and Development) of the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Punitha Silivarajoo said Malaysia’s current position of 57th out of 180 countries, with a score of 50 out of 100, reflects the urgent need for structural and systemic reforms rather than cosmetic measures.

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She said the four key reforms, comprising a constitutional amendment to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure, the separation of the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, the enactment of a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, and the establishment of a Malaysian Ombudsman, directly address core components assessed under the CPI.

“The CPI does not merely measure perceptions of corruption. It also evaluates policy direction, reform commitment and the government’s capacity to implement institutional change effectively. This makes this year particularly critical, given the magnitude of the reforms,” she said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

“When the public and the international community see a more open system, independent prosecution and more restrained political power, perceptions of national integrity will improve, and this will be reflected in a higher CPI score,” she added.

The CPI, published by Transparency International, is widely used by investors, financial institutions and the international community to assess a country’s integrity and governance standards. Countries such as Denmark, Finland and Singapore consistently rank at the top, with scores ranging from 84 to 90.

Punitha said the government is targeting an improvement in Malaysia’s CPI score to around 68 to 70 within the next five years, aiming to place the country among the top 25 globally, in line with efforts to enhance the nation’s image and restore investor confidence.

She stressed that legal reform is not an overnight process, noting that efforts began as early as 2018 and require extensive engagement involving government agencies, the judiciary, Members of Parliament and civil society organisations.

“Legal reform does not happen overnight. Each amendment requires comparative international studies, in-depth consultations and consensus among multiple stakeholders to ensure that implementation is effective and sustainable,” she said.

Commenting on the proposal to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms or 10 years, Punitha said the move is crucial to prevent prolonged concentration of political power, often linked to corruption and cronyism.

“The core principle behind this measure is to ensure that no single individual wields excessive power. When power is overly concentrated, influence grows and ultimately leads to abuse,” she said.

She added that the measure would also facilitate leadership succession planning, creating opportunities for capable younger leaders to assume office and ensuring continuity and orderly governance.

Punitha said the proposal aligns with practices in mature democracies such as the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines, which impose term limits on heads of government to prevent long-term abuse of power.

On the separation of the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, she said the reform aims to ensure prosecutions are carried out independently and professionally, free from conflicts of interest or political influence.

“When the advisory role to the government and prosecutorial functions are separated, the criminal justice system becomes more transparent and insulated from interference,” she said.

Punitha said the model has long been practised in countries such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom as a cornerstone of the rule of law.

Explaining the importance of the proposed FOI Act, she said it is designed as a balancing mechanism that grants the public access to government information without compromising national interests, while ensuring sensitive information remains protected.

Through the FOI framework, she said the public would be able to request most government information not listed under exemptions, reducing misinformation and enhancing transparency.

Applications would be processed in a structured manner by information officers in each ministry and agency, within specified timelines, and accompanied by appeal mechanisms up to the Ombudsman and tribunal levels. This would make the FOI not merely a disclosure tool, but an early preventive mechanism against corruption and abuse of power.

At the same time, Punitha said the establishment of an independent Malaysian Ombudsman would complete the reform chain by providing a neutral platform for the public to lodge complaints regarding maladministration and misconduct in the public service.

“The Ombudsman will investigate complaints transparently and independently, protect whistle-blowers and table reports in Parliament for debate. This will foster a stronger culture of accountability in the public service,” she said.

She added that beyond handling complaints, the Ombudsman would also act as a regulatory body for implementing the FOI Act, including managing appeal tribunals for public information requests.

-- BERNAMA