When it comes to bribery Malaysia has had a problem with this for many years, with no sign of it going away. Bribery and corruption are ingrained in Malaysia’s government and political institutions. Therefore, steps should be taken to address it properly. Unfortunately, most evidence suggests that the growing quantity of agencies that try to achieve this are falling short.

Bribes are an illicit arrangement that involve offering favors or money to someone in a powerful position, with the intention of affecting that person’s actions. Bribery is regarded as a felony in many countries, and those who offer or receive bribes might face severe punishments if caught. Sometimes, the distinction between tipping and bribing is rather unclear. This can make it hard to secure bribery convictions, and to establish where the rules have been broken.

When someone is elected to office, or appointed a position in government, they have to make a pledge to act in the public interest. Although this might seem fine in principle, enforcing this doctrine is not always straightforward. Most politicians who win elections will have made promises during their campaigns, and lots of these promises cause no harm. Examples include lobbying for social care funding, or endorsing a bill. Notwithstanding, other types of promises might skirt a bit close to the wind, as far as ethics are concerned. Choosing well connected contributors to award government contracts to, or employing family members would both fall under this category.

In Malaysia, greater efforts are being made to fight corruption, both globally, nationally and regionally. There is mounting concern about its increased prevalence and detrimental impact. Due to the vast bribery Malaysia and corruption, the World Bank used to say that this was a major barrier to economic and social development.

Bribery is classed as a felony for a number of reasons. First of all, receiving a bribe and then changing your behavior for personal gain is an abuse of power. In free societies, the idea of bribes being offered to high ranking government officials is particularly unacceptable. This practice emphasizes the gulf between people who can purchase favors or power, and people who lack the means to do this. Also, a bribe might result in a lower quality transaction. For instance, when a building company bribes a government minister to win a contract, the minister might snub a company that offers better or more affordable work.