Its president Muhammad Mohan said urgent action was needed to improve the nation’s CPI score in the following years, voicing alarm over how Malaysia had even dropped below countries like Namibia.

Muhammad said there were several reasons why Malaysia’s CPI score had dropped by one point to 47 for 2022, adding that it includes the rollout of several stimulus packages during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Bear in mind that these stimulus packages were rolled out without any parliamentary debates.

“Politicians heading government-linked companies (GLCs) are also among the reasons for the drop in the CPI index,” he told a press conference here.

He added that a lack of action against public officials found to have abused their power was yet another reason, though he did not specify which cases in particular.

Malaysia’s 2022 CPI score of 47 is one point lower than its score in 2021.

This meant that the nation has dropped six points in the annual CPI over the past three years, from its score of 53 in 2019.

Muhammad said the federal government must start work immediately in combating corruption, in order for the nation’s CPI score to improve.

He added that Malaysia’s score must go back to above 50, adding that “anything below 50 is a failure”.

Muhammad stressed that the 2022 CPI score did not reflect Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s performance, since he was appointed to the top post in November while the index was tabulated in September.

“The score will only reflect on (his performance in combating corruption as prime minister) when the 2023 CPI comes out in January 2024.

“However, to be fair to him, he needs to be given two years at least (for results to show),” he said.