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Indonesia could soon be ranked less corrupt than M’sia: Transparency International

KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesia, once a notoriously corrupt nation, could soon outperform Malaysia in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), says the global anti-graft body’s Malaysian chapter.

Reuters file photo.

Reuters file photo.

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KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesia, once a notoriously corrupt nation, could soon outperform Malaysia in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), says the global anti-graft body’s Malaysian chapter.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Akhbar Satar said although Indonesia was currently ranked at 88, way below Malaysia’s 54th position, it has made double-digit leaps up the index in the past few years.

Malaysia’s ranking, in contrast, stagnated in the 49-55 range, between 2013 and 2012.

Launching the 2015 CPI results yesterday (Jan 27), Mr Akhbar revealed that Indonesia improved by 19 spots from last year to sit at 88 among 168 countries.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s ranking has declined by four ranks since 2014.

Mr Akhbar said the reason for Indonesia’s rapid rise was the strength and independence of its anti-graft agency and the overwhelming support it received from the public.

“We should follow Indonesia’s footsteps and use them as an example,” said Mr Akhbar. “Compared to Malaysians, the people of Indonesia have more will to fight corruption. They are willing to come forward to give information and to become witnesses in corruption cases.”

“Malaysians are afraid because we don’t like to get into trouble. We love ourselves more than we love our country,” said Mr Akhbar.

In 2013, Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely touted as the “Asian Nobel Prize”.

Mr Akhbar said it was another acknowledgement of Indonesia’s seriousness in battling graft.

TI-M deputy president, Dr Loi Kheng Min, said although Indonesia was currently ranked below Malaysia, focus should be given to its rate of progress.

When the index was first introduced in 1995, Indonesia was ranked last among 41 countries.

Its present position at 88 is the best it has achieved.

Dr Loi said KPK’s independence could be used as an example to push for more reforms of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“In the past when KPK did not receive enough from the government’s budget, the people raised funds and opened an office for KPK. Now KPK is financed by public donations and does not rely much on the budget,” said Dr Loi.

Dr Loi added that unlike MACC, KPK only took on high profile cases and was vested with prosecutorial powers.

He said this contributed to its 100 per cent success rate on convictions, as opposed to MACC’s per cent success rate. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

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