Fighting corruption requires a pandemic-like response Credit: thebluediamondgallery.com What do corruption and the COVID-19 pandemic have in common? They both have deep and widespread repercussions for development in all countries. If appropriate curtailment measures are not taken on time, the pandemic will rage across the entire population with its impact felt by future generations. Corruption has a similar effect on economic, political, and social spheres within countries. If it continues, it impacts the government’s transparency and accountability and its reputation, eroding trust internally and globally. In April, Datuk Seri Azam Baki, the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was quoted as saying: “as someone who has been in the line of fighting corruption for a long time, it is at a rate that is worrying me”, just short of calling it a pandemic.