KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27: Malaysia's positive achievement in Transparency International’s (Tl) Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 should be sustained with meaningful structural reforms continuing to be prioritised, according to a corporate leader and a think-tank.

The index, released by Tl Malaysia last Thursday, saw Malaysia, under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, jumping 10 spots to 51st place from 61st in 2018 with a notable increase in score to 53 in 2019 from 47 in 2018.

Applauding Putrajaya for the achievement, they concurred that this significant improvement was a testament to the reform work being done in the nearly two years under the PH government.

Top Glove Corporation Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai told Bernama that it is very encouraging to see the government placing a high priority on restoring integrity and battling corruption.

Having said that he believes there is still room to improve and to work faster in order to make Malaysia a corruption-free nation.

The 62-year old entrepreneur is a firm believer that a corrupt on-free environment is essential for businesses to thrive as it inspires investor and business confidence.

In this journey, he urged the government to join hands with the private sector and citizens to overcome the corrupt on barrier in order to progress and become an advanced individual, company and nation.

Although there was already an allocation from the government to the Malaysian Anti-Corrupt on Commission (MACC), Lim wants to see more allocation and active efforts in enforcement, which will enable the agency to make meaningful progress in the war against corruption.

Under the 2020 Budget, the government has allocated RM10 million to further empower the MACC in conducting Risk Assessment Tests for all ministries, departments and agencies.

Lim urged all government servants to wear a badge to reinforce their stand against corruption and demonstrate their commitment towards preventing its occurrence.

“Bribery and corruption is a crime and preventing it is every Malaysian's duty”, he said.

Action speaks louder than words. Under Lim's leadership, Top Glove became the first private company in Malaysia to be certified with the ISO 370012016 Anti Bribery Management System.

“Our business ethics are honesty, integrity and transparency. We make it a point to instil integrity in our everyday operations and activities”, he said.

For example, every one of the company's 18,000 employees wears an anti-corruption badge which reads "To prevent corruption and bribery. Corruption and bribery is a crime.”

The manufacturer of gloves - which commands 26 per cent of the world's market share - always starts its meeting with the Business Ethics Clap, read ng out '"Honesty, Integrity and Transparency".