Azam Baki: Compliance and integrity from politicians key to end money politics and cleaner govt

SEREMBAN, Feb 15 — Lawmakers play a crucial role in ensuring that political funds can be controlled more transparently and with integrity through stricter policies, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

He said that controls with transparency and integrity were necessary, as money politics could lead to the risk of abuse of power and irregularities.

“In ensuring a cleaner and more effective government administration, MACC stresses the need for compliance with the ethical code by politicians and proactive measures to curb public fund leakage and conflicts of interest.

“This step is important to restore public confidence in the government and ensure the well-being of the nation is preserved,” he said in a statement today.

Azam said that MACC had held an engagement session with Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen, themed Joint Commitment: Strengthening Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Policies, yesterday.

He said the engagement session was held to provide a deeper understanding of the role of state legislators in strengthening integrity in government administration, in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028.

Azam said Malaysia’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, which remained the same as in 2023, as recently announced, showed that much more effort was needed to combat corruption, and required the commitment of all parties.

“The CPI performance of Malaysia this year is considered a challenge for MACC to intensify efforts and commitment to achieve 25th place in the next 10 years.

“Close cooperation between state leadership and the community is necessary to strengthen the anti-corruption agenda for the benefit of the nation,” he said. — Bernama