Malaysia has recorded a notable improvement in its fight against corruption, securing third place among ASEAN nations in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to the latest report released by Transparency International (TI) Malaysia. The country now trails only Singapore and Brunei in the regional rankings.
The report, presented by TI Malaysia secretary Raymon Ram, shows Malaysia scoring 52 out of 100 in the 2025 CPI. This marks a two-point increase compared to its scores in 2023 and 2024, signaling steady progress in governance and accountability efforts.
On the global stage, Malaysia is ranked 54th out of 182 countries assessed. Within ASEAN, Singapore continues to lead with a CPI score of 84, placing it third worldwide, while Brunei follows with a score of 63, ranking 31st globally.
According to Ram, Malaysia’s improved standing is closely linked to recent institutional and legislative reforms. Among the key contributors are the implementation of the Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 and amendments to the Audit Act 1957, which have strengthened the Auditor-General’s authority over government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies.
He added that further progress has come from new legislative initiatives, including the Government Procurement Bill and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act introduced in 2025. In parallel, the Madani government has rolled out broader governance reforms, such as the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024–2028 and the establishment of a CPI task force chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government.
Despite these gains, TI Malaysia cautioned that the journey is far from complete. Ram stressed that persistent weaknesses remain, particularly in procurement transparency, effective whistleblower protection, and the regulation of political financing.
TI Malaysia has raised concerns over whether the Government Procurement Bill is strong enough to eliminate corruption risks in high-value procurements. It also highlighted shortcomings in the whistleblower protection amendments, noting that they may still fall short in guaranteeing full disclosure and adequate protection for informants.
Additional issues flagged include the lack of comprehensive political financing regulations and concerns that Deferred Prosecution Agreements could undermine the integrity of enforcement if not carefully managed.
Looking ahead, Ram emphasized that the government must urgently accelerate institutional and legislative reforms, reinforce transparency, and demonstrate consistent political commitment. These steps are crucial if Malaysia is to achieve its long-term ambition of ranking among the world’s top 25 countries in the CPI by 2033.
At the heart of this progress lies something deeper than rankings and scores. For ordinary Malaysians, the CPI is not just an index, it reflects everyday trust in public institutions, fairness in opportunities, and confidence that integrity matters. As expectations rise, so does the responsibility to act decisively, because the true cost of inaction will be felt not only in future CPI scores, but in the public’s faith in governance itself.
