Malaysia has on Tuesday unveiled anti-graft five-year plan to clamp down on corruption in the Malaysian government, several months after a multi-billion dollar graft scandal has brought down the previous administration.
According to Reuters news reports, the five-year plan was launched by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad would involve wiping changes to the appointment process for several key posts, would require ministers and lawmakers to publicly announce their assets, and introduce several new legislation to regulate the political lobbying and funding.
Mahathir said Malaysia needs “al minds of strategies, laws, and restrictions” in order to curb corruption.
While delivering a speech over launching the new approach fighting corruption, Mahathir said, “This plan is a strong statement from the current government that we will track down and prosecute past offenders, while current and future offenders will be facing harsher action.”
Mahathir said the proposed plan’s measures would target the Malaysian government’s acquiring process, business, politics, law enforcement, and judiciary.
New rules concluded on political funding could further affect the country’s opposition parties, especially the United Malays National Organization party, once led by Mahathir and later led by Mahathir’s predecessor Najib Razak.
Voters had rejected Najib in an election in last year’s May, amid widespread speculations over allegations that around $4.5 billion has been stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the state fund set up by Najib.
UMNO and PAS, the Malay Islamist party also in opposition, had reportedly received funds from 1MDB.
In the corruption perceptions index, which was published by transparency international last year, Malaysia has ranked 62 out of 180 countries.