[UPDATED] MACC ropes in agencies to develop ‘evidence-based’ corruption survey

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has secured the assistance of the Malaysian Statistics Department to work with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna to develop experience and evidence-based corruption surveys. 

According to a source, the main objective of the research is to develop better intervention methods, and not necessarily to serve as a ranking for comparison with other countries, as that is highly subjective.  

He said the research is currently in the middle stage as the anti-graft body is still developing the questionnaires and methodology. 

Yesterday, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki proposed that Malaysia should adopt “evidence-based” surveys as negative perception erodes public trust and does not take into account all the facts. 

Azam said that perception-based surveys, such as Transparency International Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), are limited in their scope. 

“Malaysia is ranked second in CPI behind Singapore in this region, ahead of Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

“Yet, our CPI ranking is often used as a benchmark of how bad corruption is in Malaysia,” he said when delivering his keynote address during a meet-and-greet session at Pulse Grande Hotel with selected press members. 

“We are not proud of our CPI ranking and we should do better. I’m only giving an example of how perception doesn’t always mirror facts and reality.” 

The nation’s top graft buster also pointed to evidence-based surveys by UNODC on corruption and integrity.

“The MACC is looking into implementing such surveys, not just to look into public perception, but to gather information on graft happening in our society.

“We hope to collaborate with the UNODC on this, to survey public servants as well as the private sector and the public.” 

He added that this is not to “one-up” neighbouring countries but would serve as input for policymakers.

Accurate measures needed to fight graft

Meanwhile, chief of UNODC’s Data and Statistics Section, Enrico Bisogno, said that the benefits and values of measuring corruption based on experience and evidence-based indicators are in developing a matrix that is based on solid methodologies. 

Through certain methodologies and forms of corruption, like for bribery, Bisogno said measures that are accurate can be developed and the results obtained can be compared across countries. 

“We can get results that can be compared across time and understand when there is an increase or decrease, as well as understand which sectors are more affected by bribery,” he said in a statement.

“Also, if they are men or women, both as bribe payers or takers, or officials have different behaviours. So we can understand many more things. 

“These are consolidated methods and transparent methods, and everybody can replicate this method and they can become a common good.”

UiTM’s Centre for Information and Media Warfare Studies director Suhaimee Saahar commended the MACC for giving priority to evidence-based surveys and collaborating with the UNODC on the corruption/integrity surveys.

Suhaimee said the CPI is not an academically proven instrument as the scale of the measurements is not proven through standard statistical analysis as used by researchers.

“That is why an index that is built upon evidence-based surveys for the country itself is a better gauge of the current realities,” he said in a statement. – The Vibes, July 23, 2022