KUALA LUMPUR (July 20): Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M)’s latest Malaysian Corruption Barometer (MCB) 2014 survey found that 45% of Malaysian respondents ranked political parties as the most corrupt among six key institutions in Malaysia.

The police scored a close second (42%), followed by public officials/civil servants (31%), judiciary (24%), parliament/legislature (23%) and business/private sector (23%), according to the findings of the MCB.

The MCB, which surveyed the public’s experiences and views on corruption and their willingness to combat the issue, had obtained feedback from 2,032 Malaysian respondents.

In a statement issued today, TI-M president Datuk Akhbar Satar said the public in general and civil society at large are demanding for more transparency in public life in the current context of economic crisis.

He said: “In particular, concerns are daily being expressed on risks relating to the integrity of the politicians and the independence of public office holders arising from conflicts of interest, undue influence and corruption, and especially now more than ever, in the sphere of political financing.”

Akhbar said laws to govern this area must be implemented immediately.

He pointed out this was shown by the fact that Malaysia ranked fifth from the bottom in a recent survey of 54 countries in The Money, Politics, and Transparency Campaign Finance Indicators (MPT) 2014.

He also highlighted TI-M’s numerous calls for reforms in political financing, so that political parties are more transparent and accountable in the way they receive and spend donations for both sides in the political divide.

Akhbar also pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had in December 2014, agreed political funding should be regulated for parties across the spectrum, putting it forward as a joint task for the ruling government and opposition.

“Sad to say, nothing has materialized so far in this area,” he added.

On May 5, 2011, TI-M submitted its 22-point memorandum on reforms in political financing in the country to the Prime Minister, based on its research on the state of political financing in the country (2009-2010).