The government procurement act was first mentioned in 2018 under Budget 2019.
The new federal government had then announced a historic inaugural budget with massive plans to implement progressive policies and reduce costs for the benefit of the people. One of the new laws proposed included a government procurement act.
After the Pakatan Harapan government came to power in 2018, a national anti-corruption plan was also introduced that included reforming the procurement system under strategy 3.
In addition, as Malaysia is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption, this would bring national legislation in line with Article 9, which encourages each state party to establish a proper procurement system that promotes transparency.
Less than a year later, Putrajaya revealed it is expecting to table a new bill relating to public procurement by July the following year. In line with its promises of good governance and transparency, the government seemed to be keeping its promise to clean up the public procurement system.
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However, with the onset of the Covid pandemic and the sudden change in government, progress with the bill slowed to a halt. In August 2020, the Malaysian finance minister said there is nothing wrong with conducting direct negotiations, signalling a period where it seemed like the government was unconcerned with transparency.
Despite this setback, along with the littoral combat ships scandal that broke out in 2022, the government currently appears to have recommitted to move forward with a government procurement bill. The newly elected prime minister stressed that approvals for government procurements can no longer be conducted without tender in November 2022.
Mention of the bill appeared again in February 2023 during discussions about the 2023 Budget.
“Policy Proposal to the Malaysian Government: The Procurement Act” by the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) is a collection of analyses regarding the existing weaknesses of Malaysia’s procurement regimes. The proposal also makes recommendations for procurement-related matters that must be addressed in a proposed procurement law.
This report extends existing anti-corruption research into the realm of government procurement, drawing upon international best practices. It also contextualises its complex subject within the Malaysian socio-political landscape.
With a government procurement law hopefully on the horizon, this policy paper seeks to highlight the pressing issues that must be considered when drafting the law.
Download and read the full report here.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
