Background and Rationale
Malaysia, with its strategic position in Southeast Asia, has historically been a vital maritime hub, facilitating global and regional trade. In recent times, the country has witnessed a significant reduction in corruption incidents, reflecting positively on its business and investment climate. The Malaysian government has placed anti-corruption measures high on its agenda, showing a commitment to improving transparency and governance in the maritime industry. However, according to MACN’s incident data and feedback from industry players, some challenges remain, particularly at a regional level. It is vital to ensure that improvements become both deep-rooted and sustainable across the country, in key ports and shipping segments.
MACN’s Strategy
In response to the evolving landscape, MACN has launched a new initiative in Malaysia, supported by the commitment of the Malaysian government and industry stakeholders to uphold integrity and transparency. The strategy focuses on strengthening collaboration between the private sector and government agencies, promoting best practices, and leveraging MACN’s global network and compliance tools to build long-term capacity in the maritime supply chain. Key elements of the initiative include facilitating dialogue within the industry, delivering targeted awareness sessions, and gradually localizing the collective action approach to reflect Malaysia’s specific context. These efforts aim to maintain momentum and address remaining integrity challenges in the maritime sector.
In February 2025, MACN, in partnership with the Shipping Association Malaysia (SAM) and the Central Region Shipping Association (CRSA), launched a Port Integrity Campaign in Port Klang. At the heart of the campaign is the “Say No” initiative, which empowers port agents and industry stakeholders to reject facilitation payment requests. The initiative supports the creation of a zero-tolerance environment for corruption, in line with national legislation, and encourages a culture of integrity across maritime operations. MACN plans to expand this campaign to additional key ports in Malaysia.
