“Today is a historical day for Malaysia because for the first time we are launching a comprehensive anti-graft plan,” Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said at the launching of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 today, attended by ministers and senior civil servants.

He said the previous National Intergrity Plan failed to curb corruption, adding that NACP, with the tagline “Break the Corruption Chain”, would be more effective.

The plan focusses on six sectors including government procurements, law enforcement, public sector administration and judiciary.

It said 22 strategies and 115 initiatives would be implemented to crack down on corruption.

They include drafting laws on political financing and placing the National Audit Department under Parliament.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar said civil servants were a “high risk” group when it comes to corruption.

He said some 40% of those convicted of corruption between 2011 and 2015 were civil servants.