KUALA LUMPUR: Reducing bureaucracy and red tape including approvals for projects would drastically curb corruption, said the chairman of Asli Centre of Public Policies, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.
He said unnecessary red tape was a major cause of corruption as the more red tape and bureaucracy involved, the more the corrupt giver had to pay to untie the red tape.
“The corrupt receiver too likes to introduce more red tape in order to get more bribes. Both sides mutually gain and so corruption thrives and has now sadly become part of Malaysian culture,” he said in a statement yesterday.
It was reported yesterday, when answering questions at the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) consultation in Cyberjaya, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government would continue to reduce bureaucracy, such as the number of approvals for projects to take off.
Ramon, formerly Transparency Malaysia president and former honorary adviser to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said economic resilience and social stability could not be sustained if there were no drastic measures to stamp out corruption, while efficiency in the public and business sectors should be promoted.
Ramon, therefore, suggested that the government reduce the size of the public service in order to cut down red tape and bureaucracy, hence speeding up business approvals.
He said less red tape would create more competition space for the private and business sectors.
Ramon also suggested that government-linked companies and related government bodies be opened out to encourage more joint enterprises with closer collaborations from the domestic and foreign private sectors.
“However, there is a need for strong political will and sustained support from the majority of Malaysians to fight red tape and corruption.
“We cannot and should not depend on the government alone. It’s all our people`s challenge and responsibility as well,” he said. — Bernama