Think you can’t fight corruption? Think again
– Press Release: United Nations International Anti Corruption Day
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 centers had received too little attention by the global pressure group, but that 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 scrutinizing 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.
ASSET DECLARATION
Public perceptions of the integrity and accountability of public and private officials are vital. Toward that end, it is essential that all civil servants including the ministers must make a public declaration of their
assets and not to the Prime Minister as is the present practice in the case of the latter.
In addition, the anti corruption agency would have greater credibility and win public trust if it becomes an independent commission and answerable only to parliament. As an independent commission, the ACA would be free to investigate complaints against public and private officials without any perceived intrusion from the government.
We understand that the ACA is in the process of studying the 1997 Anti Corruption Act with the
view of amending it that would address its shortcomings to tackle corruption effectually. We are heartened by this timely move as effective law enforcement is essential to stop the scourge of corruption. Greater legal commitment is a key to a more robust anti-corruption stance.
Most importantly, we urge the public to become more aware of the evils of corruption and to combat it at all levels. The rakyat can also ensure that they do not vote public officials who are perceived to be corrupt as this would negate the fight against corruption.
The public and religious leaders could also support the prime minister and the government more strongly to fight corruption by strengthening the government’s to fight corruption by strengthening the government’s political will to fulfill its duty to step up the war against corruption. Unless corruption is fought more strenuously, Malaysia will lose its competitive edge and decline.
Issued by
Tan Sri (Dr) Ramon V. Navaratnam
President
Transparency International – Malaysia
