Kuala Lampur, Sept. 17 -- Malaysia could have been far more progressive in the last 20 years with potential to compete with technologically-advanced Japan, had it not been forced to tackle numerous corruption problems, a forensic accountant said today.

Prabhat Kumar, who is also the chairman of the Malaysian chapter of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, said that he also found Malaysians to be a pragmatic community when it comes to business and innovation, and hold great potential in developing the country's economy.

"I am not Malaysian, but I am in Malaysia for 30 years. This is a beautiful country. In terms of resources, it's one of the richest, in the whole region," he said in the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum 201...