Although corruption in Malaysia is nothing new, it has exacerbated in recent years as reflected in the deteriorating corruption perceptions index and a series of large-scale corruption scandals that have made headlines around the world. Lately, corruption has become so endemic and widespread that Malaysia has earned the dubious distinction of a kleptocracy, notwithstanding ongoing anti-corruption campaigns. This paper examines and analyses Malaysia’s anti-corruption experience and the factors that explain it. Drawing on data from both primary and secondary sources it argues that anti-corruption drives have remained narrowly-focused, ignoring some critical aspects of Malaysia’s political economy including the politics-business nexus, patronage networks and money politics which are at the heart of grand corruption. It further argues that much of the high-level corruption has its roots in politics and that the powerful political figures have remained largely untouched by anti-corruption drives. Finally, it reveals that despite institutional revamp, key institutions continue to suffer from a lack of independence and effective power. Such constraints, reinforced further by political manipulation and selective application of laws, have undermined the effectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives. The Malaysian experience offers lessons and insights that have wider relevance.

大马的贪污现象虽然不是什么新鲜事，但近年愈演愈烈，反映在贪污认知指数不断恶化，以及一系列大规模贪污丑闻成为全球头条新闻。最近，腐败变得如此普遍和普遍，以至于马来西亚已经赢得了盗贼统治的可疑区别，尽管正在进行的反腐败运动。本文考察和分析了马来西亚的反腐败经验及其解释因素。根据主要和次要来源的数据，它认为反腐败运动的重点仍然很窄，忽略了马来西亚政治经济的一些关键方面，包括政商关系、赞助网络和金钱政治，这些都是大腐败的核心. 它进一步认为，许多高层腐败都源于政治，而强大的政治人物基本上没有受到反腐败运动的影响。最后，它揭示了尽管进行了制度改革，但关键机构仍然缺乏独立性和有效权力。政治操纵和选择性适用法律进一步强化了这些限制，削弱了反腐败举措的有效性。马来西亚的经验提供了具有更广泛相关性的教训和见解。政治操纵和选择性适用法律进一步强化了这些限制，削弱了反腐败举措的有效性。马来西亚的经验提供了具有更广泛相关性的教训和见解。政治操纵和选择性适用法律进一步强化了这些限制，削弱了反腐败举措的有效性。马来西亚的经验提供了具有更广泛相关性的教训和见解。