21st ASEAN-PAC Meeting Strengthens Regional Commitment To Combat Corruption

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will host the 21st Principals Meeting of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC) from Oct 28 to 30, reflecting the country’s firm commitment to regional leadership in advancing the anti-corruption agenda.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Policy, Planning and Research Division director Datuk Rasidah Abdul Karim said the prestigious event, to be held at Sunway Resort Hotel, is in line with Malaysia’s role as the 2025 ASEAN Chair.

“It reflects the theme of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ which underscores the nation’s commitment to strengthening unity, integrity, and accountability among ASEAN member states,” she said.

“This initiative also demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to the global mission of combating corruption through diplomatic cooperation and the sharing of expertise at the international level,” she said in a statement today.

She added that ASEAN-PAC serves as a regional platform uniting anti-corruption agencies from ten ASEAN member countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - with Timor-Leste participating as an observer.

Rasidah said the platform plays a vital role in strengthening cross-border cooperation, including information sharing, joint training, and the implementation of collective action plans to address integrity-related challenges in the region.

She noted that Malaysia, through the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) - then known as the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) - was one of the founding members of ASEAN-PAC and had hosted the inaugural Principals’ Meeting in 2005 as well as the 10th meeting in 2015.

“This year, the MACC once again shoulders the responsibility of hosting the meeting, further reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a strategic regional partner in advancing the anti-corruption agenda,” she said.

Themed ‘Strengthening ASEAN Unity: Public-Private Collaboration in Combating Corruption,’ the meeting marks a new chapter by emphasising closer cooperation between the public and private sectors in building an economic ecosystem founded on integrity and resilience, in line with the goals of sustainable development.

In addition to the participation of anti-corruption agencies from ASEAN members states, the meeting also features representatives from international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), and the Platform for International Academic Cooperation on Anti-Corruption (PIACCF), further enriching the discussions.

Among the main agendas of the meeting are the review of the ASEAN-PAC Action Plan 2023-2025, the endorsement of the 2026-2028 Plan, and presentations by member countries on their respective anti-corruption initiatives and implementation experiences.

Three side events have also been planned - the Showcase of Prevention Work, the High-Level Dialogue on Private Sector Compliance and Culture of Integrity, in collaboration with UNODC, and the Hospitality and Visit programme aimed at introducing Malaysian culture to the visiting delegations.

The MACC will also introduce the ASEAN-PAC portal, an interactive digital platform for the exchange of information, training, and regional best practices - reflecting Malaysia’s digital transformation efforts in strengthening anti-corruption diplomacy at the international level.

Rasidah emphasised that the event is not merely an annual meeting, but a manifestation of ASEAN’s collective commitment to rejecting the culture of corruption and reinforcing global confidence in the region’s integrity.

“For Malaysia, this event elevates the country’s profile as a regional hub for anti-corruption diplomacy and a credible centre of integrity excellence.

“For ASEAN, it serves as an important platform to develop an inclusive, sustainable, and competitive action plan in pursuit of the shared aspiration for a corruption-free and high-integrity region,” she said.

-- BERNAMA