Corruption In-between: Complexity of formal institutions and informal cultural norms

Farhana; Ahmad Faiz Yaakob; Tunku Nashril Tunku Abaidah

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI38.7650

Authors

Farhana Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
Ahmad Faiz Yaakob Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
Tunku Nashril Tunku Abaidah Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI38.7650

Keywords:

Cultural norms, corruption, formal institutions, New Institutional Theory

Abstract

This paper examines the presence of corruption in Malaysia’s civil service despite formal reforms such as the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) 2010 and the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2024. The literature posits that cultural norms, such as deference to authority and group conformity, play a critical yet understudied role. Using New Institutional Theory (NIT), this paper conceptually explores the interplay between formal institutions and unspoken cultural routines. Through thematic analysis of existing literature, NIT highlights how cultural norms may inadvertently sustain corruption, advocating for greater integration of cultural perspectives in institutional reform strategies for effective governance.

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