PUTRAJAYA: The Special Task Force for the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), established by the government in May, includes representatives from nine ministries and several external experts.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the external experts include Bursa Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Operations Review Panel member Dr Mazlan Ahmad and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
He added that Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political sociology professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian and Transparency International president Dr Muhammad Mohan have also been appointed to the group, which aims to elevate the country’s CPI ranking to the top 25 within the next decade.
The task force, led by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, was approved during the Cabinet meeting in May and will be overseen by the MACC’s National Governance Planning Division.
“I am confident that with full cooperation from all parties, this task force can significantly strengthen our anti-corruption strategies, governance and administrative practices, ultimately improving the country’s CPI ranking to the top 25 out of 180 countries,” he said in a special interview marking MACC’s 57th anniversary at his office recently.
Azam further added that the agency is enhancing its fight against corruption through strategic partnerships with key agencies. One significant initiative is the creation of the Special Task Force on Financial Crime Investigations, operating under MACC’s financial analysis division (BAK), which includes members from the Inland Revenue Board and the National Audit Department of Malaysia.
Additionally, the task force comprises representatives from the Accountant General’s Department, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Companies Commission of Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Accountants, Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and Multimedia University, ensuring a broad base of expertise.
To improve investigation effectiveness, MACC has set up its own Polygraph Unit in partnership with the American Polygraph Association. MACC officers will receive specialised training to enhance their skills in using polygraphs, leading to better investigation results.
“The MACC’s technology forensics division is regularly trained in advanced forensic techniques, including tracing financial transactions and identifying money laundering activities. Since last year, we have been appointed as the lead agency for the digital forensics working group (KKFD),” he said.
Azam added that KKFD serves as a collaborative platform for sharing expertise, knowledge and best practices in digital investigations. It includes participation from other agencies with digital forensic laboratories, such as CyberSecurity Malaysia, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Prisons Department, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
Azam also emphasised MACC’s commitment to fostering international cooperation in the fight against corruption, particularly regarding cross-border cases such as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. This initiative has significantly improved Malaysia’s global standing, making it easier to collaborate with foreign nations.
He noted that several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have expressed their commitment to facilitating MACC’s access to testimonies from individuals residing abroad, despite their own legal frameworks.
“With these international collaborations, we can more effectively manage and investigate issues related to cross-border corruption and money laundering, including the recording of testimonies. In the past, the lack of cooperation made it difficult for countries to share information, but now the process has become considerably smoother,” he said. – BERNAMA
