The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is intensifying its partnership with Transparency International (TI) as part of broader efforts to bolster governance standards and combat corruption on both domestic and international fronts. The two organisations held talks at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya yesterday, with TI chair François Valerian meeting MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman to discuss expanded collaboration.

During the visit, Azmi underscored MACC's unwavering dedication to deepening ties with TI and advancing initiatives centred on integrity, transparency and good governance. The commission indicated its readiness to explore fresh avenues for joint work that would reinforce Malaysia's institutional integrity framework and anti-corruption mechanisms.

Through its National Governance Planning Division, MACC functions as the principal secretariat for the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Special Task Force, coordinating with six dedicated focus groups across government ministries, agencies, universities, businesses and civil society groups. This collaborative approach allows stakeholders to analyse underlying causes behind Malaysia's CPI rankings and performance trends.

Malaysia's CPI score strengthened markedly this year, rising two points from 50 to 52, while the country climbed three positions internationally to reach 54th place globally. The country has set an ambitious target to break into the world's top 25 CPI rankings by 2030, reflecting its determination to further enhance anti-corruption standards.

Valerian emphasised that meaningful improvements in CPI performance stem from combining robust preventive strategies with rigorous enforcement. He stated that TI supports collaboration with anti-corruption agencies to drive progress in combating corruption. Valerian also stressed the necessity for such agencies to receive adequate funding and staffing while operating independently from political considerations, ensuring they function effectively in their mandate.