The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is deepening its collaborative efforts with Transparency International (TI) to advance anti-corruption measures and strengthen governance frameworks across Malaysia and the globe. This commitment was underscored during a recent meeting between TI chair François Valerian and MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya.

During the engagement, Azmi highlighted MACC's appreciation for the established ties with the international organisation and reaffirmed the agency's dedication to bolstering cooperation in areas including good governance, institutional integrity, transparency and anti-corruption work. The commission has signalled its intention to broaden current collaborations and identify fresh avenues for partnership that strengthen Malaysia's overall integrity ecosystem.

Through its National Governance Planning Division, MACC serves as the principal secretariat for the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Special Task Force. Working across six CPI focus groups, the commission engages with government ministries, state agencies, universities, business organisations and non-governmental bodies to analyse elements influencing Malaysia's performance on the international index.

Malaysia's CPI score for 2025 climbed two points to reach 52, while its global standing improved by three positions, moving from 57th to 54th place. Valerian noted that such gains require both robust preventive strategies and steady enforcement efforts. He stressed that anti-corruption bodies require adequate budgets, skilled personnel and insulation from political pressures to operate effectively.

Valerian welcomed Malaysia's aspiration to position itself among the world's top 25 CPI performers by 2030, signalling TI's readiness to support anti-corruption agencies seeking to lift their countries' ratings and governance standards.