M'sia rises a rank in Corruption Perception Index

Wednesday September 26, 2007
MYT 7:36:59 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has risen a rank up on Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

It was ranked 43rd this year but the score of 5.1 was a minimal improvement from the 5.0 that Malaysia recorded last year.

However, the slight positive change in how people perceived corruption in the country's public sector stopped a five-year downward trend in the rankings, which was 33rd in 2002, 37th in 2003, 39th in 2004, 39th in 2005 and 44th in 2006.

The annual survey was carried out in 180 countries and is a composite index that draws on 14 expert opinion surveys. It was released Tuesday.

There were 16 new countries including Afghanistan, Maldives and Somalia.

The highest Asian country was Singapore which was ranked fourth and is the only non-Western economy to break the Top 10 list, led by Denmark. Somalia and Myanmar shared the last spot.

Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia scored lower than Malaysia.

Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam hoped that the result would be the turning point in further improving the CPI.

"There needs to be more effort and greater political will," he said to reporters Wednesday after announcing the results.

The organisation's founding president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim said the results showed that people still perceived Malaysia as being "very corrupt".

"It is very important to have enforcement and honest civil servants. Perception is very real and very important. You cannot just dismiss the results," he said.

Survey: M'sians lead exciting sex lives

Tuesday September 25, 2007
MYT 7:32:43 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians lead a relatively active and exciting sex life compared with the global average, according to Durex’s Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey.

The second report from its survey said that 79% of Malaysians -- compared with 67% of the world’s lovers -- make love weekly.

Furthermore, over 35% Malaysians do so three times a week or more, versus a global average of only 10%.

However, this is not enough for 54% of Malaysians and 62% of the world’s lovers who would like it to happen more often, the condom-maker said in a statement.

This is part of the second wave results from the latest Durex’s Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey, which builds on the Sexual Satisfaction report revealed in April.

Almost two thirds of Malaysians (62%) say they lead an exciting love life. This is compared with a global total of 50%, just 43% of Thais, 32% of adults in Hong Kong and a mere 10% of Japanese.

Moreover, 60% of Malaysians feel uninhibited when making love and just 31% are uncomfortable telling their partners what they want.

The survey also revealed that Malaysians are considered romantic when it comes to spicing things up with more than two-thirds (67%) saying that a relaxing massage is important to them while 45% like to wear sexy underwear.

When asked what would improve their love lives, most of the respondents said that more romance (74%), better communication with their partners (66%) and more fun (64%) would be among their top priorities.