Appointment as IACA president proof of govt’s commitment to fighting corruption, says Azalina

PUTRAJAYA: Being appointed as the president of the Assembly of Parties (AoP) of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) is a significant honour for Malaysia and highlights the Madani government’s dedication to combating corruption on a global scale, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) was appointed the president of the 13th session of AoP IACA during the AoP assembly at the Vienna International Centre on Wednesday (Oct 30).

She remarked that the appointment signifies the international community’s recognition and trust in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s strong commitment to anti-corruption, which is globally acknowledged.

“This appointment not only offers Malaysia the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in the fight against corruption internationally, but it also mandates us to bring about meaningful change in the global effort to combat corruption,” she said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department noted in the same statement that this historic appointment is the first time Malaysia has been entrusted with the highest position in the AoP IACA, a crucial platform for global capacity building in anti-corruption efforts.

Azalina will lead the AoP Bureau and IACA, comprising 77 countries and four international organisations, in formulating policies and strategies to enhance the academy’s role in professional anti-corruption education and training.

Since the AoP IACA’s first session in 2012, Malaysia has served as vice president in four sessions — in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

According to the statement, IACA’s recognition complements Malaysia’s various anti-corruption initiatives, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028, aimed at combating corruption and promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability across sectors.

“This includes several initiatives actively carried out by the Legal Affairs Division, such as legal reforms to improve governance by drafting the Freedom of Information Bill, amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act, and updates to the Trustees Act.

“Malaysia is confident that the trust of an international body like IACA will propel the nation towards becoming corruption-free, aspiring to rank among the top 25 countries in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index within the next 10 years,” the statement read.

The statement also mentioned that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, has been reappointed as an IACA Board of Governors (BoG) member for the 2024-2027 session.

Azam’s role in the BoG will provide Malaysia with an advantage in setting IACA’s direction and ensuring a more effective anti-corruption agenda.

“Indirectly, this appointment will also help enhance the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy as a reputable anti-corruption training centre in the Asia-Pacific region,” it added.

Since its establishment in 2011 in Austria, IACA has served as an international centre of excellence and research for combating corruption and a key training hub for professionals, mainly within anti-corruption agencies. – BK