16 NACS Sub-strategies Completed By 11 Ministries And Agencies, Says MACC Chief

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Sixteen sub-strategies under the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028 have been successfully implemented by 11 ministries and agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), as of August, said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Of these, five were completed last year, while 11 were achieved this year, reflecting the agencies’ commitment and efficiency in fulfilling their respective roles.

Azam said the measures include the introduction of the Border Control and Protection Agency Act 2024, the development of integrity and anti-corruption ambassador kits for schools, additional financial incentives for the production of specialised creative film content and a mandatory declaration of beneficial ownership for companies participating in public procurement.

“Other initiatives completed include the mandatory rollout of the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption module across the civil service, job rotation exercises, guidelines for engagement sessions in Parliament and state assemblies.

“Improvements were also made to the E-Vetting 3.0 system to strengthen screening of civil service recruits,” he said during a recent media briefing.

Azam said the sub-strategies carried out have also delivered tangible benefits to the public.

Citing an example, he said the enactment of the Border Control and Protection Agency Act last October has strengthened national security by reducing the risk of threats such as arms and drug smuggling, human trafficking and cross-border extremism.

“The Act also combats smuggling and illicit economic activities, including the illegal trade of cigarettes, diesel and other black-market goods that harm the economy. It helps protect national revenue by preventing leakages in customs duties, petroleum income and the control of subsidised goods.

“Tighter and more efficient border controls have boosted investor and tourist confidence, supporting foreign investment and tourism,” he said.

Azam added that these achievements under the NACS framework could also help Malaysia improve its standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), aligning with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s target of placing the country in the top 25 by 2033.

Commenting on the CPI, Azam said the CPI Special Task Force, led by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, is taking a targeted approach that includes legal reforms, procurement transparency and proposals to restructure oversight agencies.

He said the task force has established six focus groups, covering enforcement, public fund management, business competitiveness, investment risk, legislation and strategic communications.

“These focus groups, formed last October, are driving governance, integrity and anti-corruption improvements within their respective areas,” he said.

Azam added that the MACC is also leveraging digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen organisational efficiency and investigative capabilities.

“The use of big data analytics and AI serves as an early detection tool to identify unusual spending patterns or suspicious project approvals before they cause major losses to the country,” he said.

Azam said that while AI holds immense potential, it is not immune to misuse, including the spread of false information, data manipulation and opaque automated decisions.

He said the government is taking the matter seriously, moving swiftly to introduce legal frameworks and guidelines for ministries, agencies and the private sector to ensure responsible use of the technology.

“This framework outlines principles such as algorithmic fairness, transparency, the right to explanation and protection against digital discrimination, safeguarding the public from the exploitation of technology by irresponsible parties,” he said.

Regarding public perception of the government’s anti-corruption drive, Azam said one of the objectives of the NACS is to address public confidence in the transparency and integrity of national institutions.

“The outlined approach is not just about combating corruption, but also about building a system of governance that earns public trust through open monitoring, community engagement and consistent enforcement.

“The more the public understands what we are doing, the greater their confidence will be. Public trust can only be built through action, and NACS represents the government’s strategic commitment to proving that integrity reforms are more than just slogans,” he said.

-- BERNAMA