TI-M welcomes the information that 544 Govt Officials have been charged for corrupt practices. We ask for more frequent announcements of this nature to give greater credibility to the Government’s fight against Corruption.
It is noted from the information that Corruption is wide spread across the board, with corrupt officials found in so many Departments !
It shows higher priority has to be given to combat corruption, especially in getting the Big Fish not only in government but in the private sector, where corruption is as serious if not more so!
In this connection TI-M appeals to the Government to finalise the investigations into the 18 high profile cases that have remained outstanding for a long time. This lack of prosecution of BIG FISH erodes confidence in the government’s will to really get to the core of the corrupt!
Hence, TI-M is disappointed that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dato Seri Nazri Aziz, has stated in Parliament that “the Govt has no plans to enact the a Freedom of Information Act”.
This is a blow to the progress that has been made recently by the Prime Minister himself that the Govt is determined to fight corruption and improve the effectiveness of the Judiciary and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) through the introduction of Independent Commissions as soon as possible!
There is definitely a great need to have a Freedom of Information Act to strengthen the struggle against Corruption and to enhance Good Governance in our country .
TI-M therefore urges the government to amend the Official Secrets Act (OSA) if it is not feasible to scrap it altogether at this stage, so as to bring about a more OPEN and FREE SOCIETY.
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
Transparency International – Malaysia
This is a press statement by Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M)
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
