RIYADH: In a swift compliance with the government ordinance to various ministries and entities, the anti-graft body has said that the number of those cooperating with it is on the rise.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Abdul Rahman Al-Ajlan, official spokesman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha), said the level of transparency at these government agencies in fighting corruption is increasing.

The organization' report in June last year had revealed that 16 departments were refusing to cooperate. In this context, he said, the leadership issued an order to these agencies to cooperate for greater transparency and accountability or be penalized for negligence. The circular makes it obligatory for government agencies to provide relevant documents sought by Nazaha.

He pointed out that Nazaha has enjoined all government agencies, ministries and departments covered by its terms of reference as independent institutions and some state-owned firms with not less than 25 percent shares to make it easier for its representatives to access what it needs.

Al-Ajlan underlined its cooperation with government agencies such as Detectives Administration and others by providing them with tasks in their specialty. In return, they provide Nazaha corruption-related cases within their jurisdiction.

The latest annual reports of the commission revealed continuation of the increasing number of departments which are not cooperating fully with the body, compared to last year.

The report also revealed that Saudi Arabia was ranked 55th globally among 175 countries in 2014 in the international protection of integrity indicators with improvement in its position from 63 in the previous rank, the report said.