Malaysia unveils five-year plan to control corruption

Malaysia has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to clamp down on corruption in government, months after a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal brought down the previous administration

The plan, launched by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, would involve sweeping changes to the appointment process for key posts, require lawmakers and ministers to publicly declare their assets, and introduce new laws to regulate political funding and lobbying.

Voters rejected Mahathir's predecessor Najib Razak in an election in May last year, amid widespread public disgust over allegations that about $4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund set up by Najib.

The former premier, his wife, and several high-ranking officials of his former administration have since been hit with dozens of criminal charges related to losses at 1MDB and other government entities. All of them have pled not guilty.

Mahathir said Malaysia needs "all kinds of strategies, laws, and restrictions" to curb corruption.

"This plan is a strong statement from the current government that we will track down and prosecute past offenders, while current and future offenders will be facing harsher action," Mahathir said in a speech to launch the new approach to fighting graft.

The plan's measures would target the government's procurement process, law enforcement, judiciary, politics, and business, he said.

New rules on political funding could affect opposition parties, particularly the United Malays National Organisation, the party once led by Mahathir and subsequently led by Najib for close to a decade before his fall last year.

Malaysia was ranked 62 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International last year.

Malaysian and U.S. authorities allege that Jho Low, a financier with ties to Najib's family, diverted funds from 1MDB and that about $1 billion of it made their way into Najib's personal bank accounts.

Both Najib and Low, whose whereabouts are unknown, have consistently denied wrongdoing.