Pushpan Murugiah is a regional governance, integrity, and anti-corruption specialist with extensive experience across the corporate, civil society, and international development sectors. He is the Founder of the Southeast Asia Institute for Accountability, Governance & Economics (SAGE), an independent regional institution promoting evidence-based policy research, strategic dialogue, and practical governance solutions across ASEAN. Through SAGE, he works with governments, multilateral organisations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector to address complex governance challenges, strengthen institutional integrity, and advance sustainable reforms. His expertise includes anti-corruption strategy, public sector integrity, institutional governance, political economy analysis, corporate governance, regulatory reform, organisational development, and public accountability. His recent work increasingly examines corruption as a systemic enabler of transnational organised crime, cyber-enabled fraud, environmental crime, illicit financial flows, and state capture, with a particular focus on strengthening institutional resilience across Southeast Asia.
Before establishing SAGE, Pushpan served as Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia’s Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, where he led the organisation’s strategic development and advocacy for major institutional reforms. His work supported proposals relating to the establishment of a Malaysian Ombudsman, freedom of information legislation, whistleblower protection, political financing, public procurement reform, the separation of the offices of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, and stronger accountability for anti-corruption institutions. Regionally, he has collaborated with governments, journalists, civil society organisations, and international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, on initiatives addressing corruption, trafficking in persons, online fraud, environmental offences, and cross-border governance risks. A sought-after keynote speaker, moderator, and facilitator, Pushpan is recognised for combining strategic policy analysis with practical, implementation-focused recommendations. Through SAGE and his independent advisory work, he continues to support stronger governance systems, transparent institutions, accountable leadership, and the rule of law across Southeast Asia.
