|
Think You Can't Fight Corruption? Think Again
December 9, 2007
by Tan Sri (Dr) Ramon V. Navaratnam
President, Transparency International – Malaysia
Press Release: United Nations International Anti
Corruption Day December 9, 2007
TI MALAYSIA joins and
strongly supports the UN observing Anti Corruption Day.
It is in effect declaration by the world body that we
must be united in the battle against graft.
International Anti-Corruption Day which falls on 9th
December was announced three years after the historic
signing of the United Nations Convention against
Corruption in Merida, Mexico. It was designated in 2004
by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
International Anti-Corruption Day recognizes the
essential global leadership provided at Merida, where 95
countries took the anti-corruption pledge by signing the
Convention. They have since been joined by 42 more
signatories, bringing the total to 137 nations.
Since bribe-paying is reported mostly in developing
countries like Malaysia, the burden of corruption falls
hardest on those who can least afford it.
But increasingly it is realized that the supply side of
corruption must be given more attention as the big
bribers or those who supply big ticket items like
defence equipment are the biggest corruption culprits!
In Malaysia the misuse of public funds, as exposed in
the Auditor General's 2006 report indicates the
greatest harm to the money available for other important
public uses. The risks to lives are real, and those who
can make a difference must act.
Yet so far, government action to stop corruption has
been judged at best lacklustre and at worse,
ineffective.
TI strongly advocates more effective polices to be
formulated at government and private sector level to
promote institutional integrity and monitoring
mechanisms be put in place to ensure that both public
and private dealings are open, transparent and
accountable.
INTEGRITY PACTS
To that end, TI is in the midst of introducing and
promoting the Integrity Pact (IP) that is aimed at
creating and maintaining a level playing field for
businesses and public sector. It is a double-barrel
strategy in vigorously fighting corruption in both the
public and private sectors. The IP is a comprehensive
strategy and a tool aimed at preventing corruption in
public and private contracting and its monitoring system
provides for independent oversight and accountability. A
stronger public-private partnership is vital to curb
corporate corruption and the partnership has to be
fostered to prevent the adverse effect corruption has on
our economy.
Corruption watchdogs like the ACA has to exert much
greater pressure to tighten anti-graft and money
laundering regulations. Corruption facilitated by
bankers and financial centres had received too little
attention by the global pressure group, but this is
changing.
UN CONVENTION
This approach is strongly advocated by the United
Nations Convention Against Corruption, a key anti-graft
tool, which sadly, Malaysia is yet to ratify. The
Attorney General is still scrutinising the anti
corruption clauses before agreeing to the ratification
process. The signing and ratification of the United
Nations Convention against Corruption must be viewed as
a forceful demonstration of the power of visionary
leadership to bring about an historic change for the
good. "Complacency is corruption's best friend,” said
David Nussbaum, former Chief Executive of Transparency
International.
We share his views that signing the document alone is
inadequate. Malaysia must now complete the ratification
process and focus on implementation. Nations that have
ratified will benefit from the Convention's provisions
to help retrieve assets stolen by public officials,
prevent money laundering,
pursue corrupt foreign companies and individuals,
prohibit bribery of foreign public officials, and
enhance accounting and auditing standards in the private
sector. Malaysia then has to set up a rigorous
monitoring mechanism or else it will fail to make a dent
in corruption levels.
A clean and efficient government, stronger leadership,
effective institutional watchdogs and the rule of law
are key factors to defeating corruption by creating a
level playing field for businesses to combat corruption
and promote integrity.
Legal changes such as anti-corruption codes and
conventions as well as archaic amendments to the
legislative structure are important in the fight against
graft and in this effort, companies must introduce anti
corruption programmes and adopt internal code of ethics
ensuring strict compliance.
Hence, TI M is currently actively engaged with the
companies, businesses and government agencies to
sign and adopt a Memorandum of Collaboration to ensure
strict observance of ethics, integrity and
anti-corruption clauses in their dealings.
ACA
Our ACA has undeniably an important role to play in
achieving the goals of creating zero tolerance towards
corruption. Corruption must be made truly risky with
high conviction rates. However, documented evidence
indicates that ACA has yet to achieve its full potential
in its anti-corruption efforts.
We believe its current status as a government agency
reporting to Minister in Prime Minister's Department
does not inspire adequate confidence among the public
and thus, many cases go unreported. According to our
surveys and barometer on corruption, people's
perceptions are an indicator of the success of anti
corruption policies and initiatives. Thus, a public
perception of the ACA as credible and independent is
vital in ACA's anti-corruption measures.
In addition, establishing which public agencies have the
highest level of corruption helps set priorities for
reform. ACA providing insight into the frequency and
cost of bribery helps the government and civil society
groups understand how the public is victimized by
corruption - and the very high price that corruption
exerts on the poor.
|
