KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s firm stance on combating corruption has yielded positive results, with Malaysia advancing two places in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The country now ranks 54th out of 182 nations, scoring 52 out of 100—a modest yet significant improvement over the previous year.
Released on February 10, 2026, the CPI measures perceived levels of public sector corruption, with a scale ranging from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Malaysia’s position now places it third within ASEAN, behind Singapore and Brunei. Singapore ranks globally at third with 84 points, while Brunei follows at 31st place with a score of 63.
Raymon Ram, the secretary of Transparency International Malaysia, attributed the improvement to recent legislative reforms, including the Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023, amendments to the Audit Act 1957, and new laws such as the Government Procurement Bill and the revised Whistleblower Protection Act.
He also highlighted the implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy (2024–2028) and the creation of a CPI task force, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government.
“Other efforts include the Government Procurement Bill and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act in 2025. The Madani government has rolled out several reforms, such as the national anti-corruption strategy and the formation of the CPI task force,” said Ram, as quoted by Malay Mail Online.
Despite these advancements, Ram cautioned that Malaysia must remain vigilant.
“Key areas requiring continued attention include procurement transparency, robust whistleblower protection, and the regulation of political financing,” he warned.
Transparency International raised concerns over potential corruption risks in high-value procurement projects and pointed out that the amended whistleblower protection laws might not fully safeguard disclosures.
The absence of comprehensive political financing regulations and issues surrounding Deferred Prosecution Agreements further complicate reform efforts.
On a global scale, Denmark topped the index with a score of 89, followed by Finland with 88. At the other end of the spectrum, Somalia and South Sudan were at the bottom with scores of just 9, highlighting persistent governance challenges. The global average fell to 42, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50.
Ram emphasised that Malaysia must accelerate both institutional and legislative reforms to achieve its goal of breaking into the CPI’s top 25 by 2033. “TI Malaysia urges the government to take decisive, systematic action.
Public expectations are high, and failure to act will reflect in both future CPI scores and public trust,” he said.
Since assuming office, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has placed integrity and anti-corruption at the heart of his leadership. He has committed to ensuring that no individual—whether from the ruling coalition, opposition, or former leaders—will be shielded from investigation or prosecution if found guilty of corruption.
Anwar has also linked anti-corruption measures to broader economic reforms aimed at improving the cost of living and wages. His administration’s reforms, including procurement legislation, enhanced whistleblower protections, and fiscal responsibility laws, reflect a vision to instil transparency and accountability throughout Malaysia’s institutions. – February 10, 2026