Public procurement reform initiatives / Malaysia beneficial ownership law / Indonesia government debt control

Seven pathbreaking teams will advance public procurement reforms to increase access, competition and participation with the support of Lift.  “Seven projects from France, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, and the United States have been selected to advance procurement reforms as part of the Open Contracting Partnership’s impact accelerator program Lift... Over the next 18 months, the Open Contracting Partnership will support the selected teams as they open and strengthen their procurement systems and build their team capacity to make procurement more community-centered and effective for all.”

Open Contracting Partnership: https://www.open-contracting.org/news/seven-pathbreaking-teams-will-advance-public-procurement-reforms-lift/    

 

MACC: Malaysia needs law on beneficiary ownership to fight graft.  “Malaysia needs to have a law on beneficiary ownership on top of the existing regulations…introduced by the Companies Commission of Malaysia to fight corruption, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki...he said among MACC’s initiatives under the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 were to put a new provision under the existing MACC Act 2009 to address issues of beneficiaries and beneficiary ownership about public procurement.”

Malay Mail: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/06/29/macc-malaysia-needs-law-on-beneficiary-ownership-to-fight-graft/1985896  

 

Economist proposes five steps to control government debt.  “[Indonesia's] government must move to restrict corrupt attitudes to ensure taxation rules are upheld because corruption can hurt tax receipts, [Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) director Bhima Yudhistira] said.”

Antara News: https://en.antaranews.com/news/177610/economist-proposes-five-steps-to-control-government-debt

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COVID and anti-corruption resources / Philippines high level extortion / Pakistan prioritizing white-collar cases

COVID-19 & Corruption: Latest Trackers, Articles, and Resources.  “The staff of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center at CIPE has compiled this list of recent publications and resources to help the global anti-corruption community, and is updated monthly. The most recent entries are placed near the top and extend through the last thirty days. We welcome your suggestions for additional articles, reports, and resources on this issue.”

Kai Bernier-Chen/Center for international Private Enterprise: https://acgc.cipe.org/business-of-integrity-blog/covid-19-corruption-latest-trackers-articles-and-resources/  

 

Corruption can be beaten: Gordon hails conviction of BI execs in P50 M extortion case.  “[Philippines Senator Richard Gordon] made the remark after the Sandiganbayan convicted two former senior officials of the Bureau of Immigration and a businessman on separate charges of plunder and graft for extorting P50 million [approx. US$1 million] from Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam five years ago.”

Neil Arwin Mercado/Inquirer.net: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1451516/conviction-in-p50m-immigration-extortion-case-victory-for-justice-system  

 

NAB chief directs all regional bureaus ‘Utilise all resources for concluding white-collar mega corruption cases’.  “[Pakistan’s] Chairman National Accountability Bureau's Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal has directed all regional bureaus of NAB to utilise all available resources for concluding white-collar mega corruption cases as per law. ‘Out of 179 mega corruption cases, 63 such cases have been concluded by various accountability courts due to vigorous prosecution of NAB whereas 95 mega corruption cases are still under trial’”

Asim Yasin/The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/856219-nab-chief-directs-all-regional-bureaus-utilise-all-resources-for-concluding-white-collar-mega-corruption-cases  

Mekong development zones report / Philippines former president legacy / Thailand street lamp controversy

Mekong Development Zones Facilitating Illicit Activities: Report.  “The [new report from C4ADS, a U.S.-based research organization], which analyzes 110 economic development zones (EDZs) in the five lower Mekong nations – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar – found that while these zones have stoked economic growth, corruption, opacity, and weak regulatory frameworks have undermined their benefits.”

Sebastian Strangio/The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/06/mekong-development-zones-facilitating-illicit-activities-report/    

 

How Noynoy Aquino delivered on 5 major promises (Opinion).  “Aquino’s ‘social contract with the people’ covered corruption, infrastructure, economy, poverty, education…Aquino served as the Philippines’ 15th president, from June 2010 to June 2016. He died on Thursday, June 24, at the age of 61.”

Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/noynoy-aquino-delivered-major-promises-accomplishments-as-president  

 

Tambon freezes plan to buy more controversial street lights.  “The Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) in Racha Thewa…decided to defer a plan to buy more controversial solar-powered street lamps until the project is cleared by state investigations...[It] was accused of buying unnecessary street lamps with overpriced tags and from one company.”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2137299/tambon-freezes-plan-to-buy-more-controversial-street-lights

Audit trail for business compliance / Lessons from London Summit / Nepal tax exemption case

How audit trail can lead to increased compliance and transparency.  “Once having an integrated and secure audit trail in place, collected and aggregated logs can be used for different business purposes i.e. regulatory compliance that ensures your recorded logs comply with existing stadnards and regulations, business analysis that helps you analyze over gain or loss, and data integration that allows you to recontstruct the data.”

Kapil Rana/Economic Times: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/legal/how-audit-trail-can-lead-to-increased-compliance-and-transparency/articleshow/83659127.cms

 

Five Years Later: Four Lessons We Learned from the London Anti-Corruption Summit (Blog).  “It’s been five years since the United Kingdom hosted the London Anti-Corruption Summit, where 43 governments made over 600 pledges to tackle corruption... The designers of the upcoming US-hosted Summit for Democracy can send a clear message that any anti-corruption – or other – pledges that invited countries plan to make should be discussed with civil society in advance and embedded into national implementation plans, such as OGP action plans, afterwards.”

Kate Meads and Joe Powell/Open Government Partnership: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/five-years-later-four-lessons-we-learned-from-the-london-anti-corruption-summit/  

 

CIAA files Rs 1.33 billion graft case against three persons including Chudamani Sharma.  “[Nepal’s] Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed Rs 1.33 billion (approx. US$ 11 mil) graft case against three persons in ‘irregularities’ involving the Tax Settlement Commission…[for] exempting tax going beyond the jurisdiction…on the basis of mutual negotiations.”

Nepal Live Today: https://www.nepallivetoday.com/2021/06/23/ciaa-files-rs-1-33-billion-graft-case-against-three-people-including-chudamani-sharma/  

Resource Governance Index 2021 / Japan ex-minister gift scandal / Beneficial ownership peer exchange

Announcing the 2021 Resource Governance Index: Assessments of Oil, Gas and Mining Governance in 18 Countries.  “The composite or [Resource Governance Index] score is made up of three components. Two measure key characteristics of the extractives sector – value realization and revenue management – and a third captures the broader context of governance — the enabling environment… the 2021 Resource Governance Index will provide key change-makers with the tools to advocate for more transparency, accountability and drive reform in the resource governance sector.”

Natural Resources Governance Institute: https://resourcegovernance.org/blog/2021-resource-governance-index-assessments-oil-gas-mining-governance-in-18-countries  

 

Ex-Japan trade minister Sugawara fined 400,000 yen over gift scandal.  “Tokyo court has fined former trade minister Isshu Sugawara 400,000 yen ($3,600) for sending money and flowers to voters in his constituency in violation of Japan's election law, court officials said…[It] has also ordered suspension of Sugawara's right to vote or run for public office for three years.”

Kyodo News: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/06/18054de10617-ex-trade-minister-sugawara-fined-400000-yen-over-gift-scandal.html  

 

OGP’s Approach to Peer Exchange: The Example of Beneficial Ownership (Blog).  As interest in this issue grows, reformers are eager to hear how others have dealt with challenges such as how to define a beneficial owner, integrate a register with existing databases, and build sustainable coalitions among stakeholders. OGP has convened a number of peer exchanges for reformers supporting beneficial ownership transparency in their countries, each designed “fit for purpose” based on the needs and challenges of the participants and in collaboration with key thematic partners.”

Sarah Dickson/Open Government Partnership:  https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/ogps-approach-to-peer-exchange-the-example-of-beneficial-ownership/

World Whistleblowers Day / Accural reporting for accountability / Case against high-denomination notes

World Whistleblowers Day 2021: speaking up against corruption is crucial for a just world, and we’re here to help (Statement).  “World Whistleblowers Day on 23 June is an occasion for us to celebrate the courageous individuals who come forward to report corruption…We’ll also keep on pushing for legal protection, so that whistleblowers can safely expose and help prevent corruption, ultimately building integrity across our societies.”

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/world-whistleblowers-day-2021-speaking-up-against-corruption-crucial-just-world-alacs-can-help  

 

Improving Accountability Around The World Through Accruals.  “Corruption and cronyism has been hitting headlines around the world off the back of dubious procurement practices and a loosening of scrutiny brought about by the emergency situation. In this context, transparent accounts that support good decision making, accountability, and public trust are more important than ever before.”

Rob Whiteman: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwhiteman/2021/06/17/improving-accountability-around-the-world-through-accruals/?sh=55173d046da5  

 

The Case Against High-Denomination Bank Notes (Blog).  “While some high-denomination notes are held by governments and by people without access to the banking system, a significant proportion of these notes are used for unlawful activities like paying bribes, laundering money, and evading taxes…The good news is that relatively few countries issue problematically large notes. In fact, unified action by the G20 would include nearly all high-denomination notes, and there is a good chance that the remaining few issuers could be persuaded to join as well.”

Sam Magaram/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/21/the-case-against-high-denomination-bank-notes/  

Afghanistan US contractors departure / Mental model for front-line reformers / Bangladesh money laundering issue

Departure of U.S. Contractors Poses Myriad Problems for Afghan Military (Commentary).  “Contractors in Afghanistan have long operated under a system that is susceptible to corruption and mismanagement. Transferring their payments through another entity — in this case the Afghan government — is bound to make the contracts even more open to charges of corruption, lawmakers and independent analysts warn.”

Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt/The New York Times: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/departure-u-contractors-poses-myriad-151003866.html  

 

SFRA: A mental model for front-line reformers (Blog).  “We have tried to codify this into a pragmatic mental model that front-line reformers can use to develop better anti-corruption strategies. Its purpose is deliberately limited: to enable context-specific thinking about which particular corruption issues could be addressed to build up a set of feasible strategy options. This mental model is called SFRA: Sector, Focus, Reformulation, Approach.”

Mark Pyman and Paul Heywood/Tufts University: https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/sfra-a-mental-model-for-front-line-reformers/  

 

‘Black money whitening bar to curbing corruption’.  “The opportunity to whiten black money is a big barrier to curbing corruption in [Bangladesh], said Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue…Bangladesh needs increased organisational capability, good governance, and political will to implement the budget in quality ways.”

The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/black-money-whitening-bar-curbing-corruption-2114969  

Assemblage theory for reforms / Mongolia business licenses / Chinese contractor debarred

The Role of Assemblage Theory in Rethinking Anticorruption Reform (Blog).  “First, assemblage theory suggests that the reasons anticorruption reforms fail...might lie beyond the borders of individual countries…[Second,] assemblage theory encourages researchers and policymakers to track a vast array of actors, ideas, and objects that can help bring about change—an enterprise that may help expose relationships and engagements that are sometimes hidden.”

Grant Walton/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/15/guest-post-the-role-of-assemblage-theory-in-rethinking-anticorrption-reform/   

 

Mongolia: business licenses will be issued online, with a more transparent and open procedure.  “Mr. Sainzorig, Head of the Legal Policy Department of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia, briefed the public on the draft Law on License… Under this law, the licensing procedure will be conducted in electronic form, and human participation will be reduced.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-business-licenses-will-be-issued-online-with-a-more-transparent-and-open-procedure/

 

World Bank debars Chinese contractor for corruption in China.  “The World Bank Group has announced the two-year debarment of China-based Zhejiang First Hydro & Power Construction Group Co...according to the factors of the case [that] Zhejiang First Hydro’s de facto agent and subcontractor offered and paid bribes to two government officials in exchange for a contract.”

Global Construction Review: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/08/new-podcast-episode-featuring-alice-mattoni/  

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (18 June 2021): PNG, Fiji

New Pacific university anti-corruption course launched.  A new anti-corruption course focusing on Pacific Island countries was launched virtually by the University of the South Pacific in partnership with the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC).

https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=3412

 

PNG:

The Papua New Guinea's Indepent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) should be fully operational by the end of 2022. Chairman of ICAC Thomas Eluh made this assurance in a press conference in Port Moresby

https://www.looppng.com/national-news/icac-operations-target-101238

 

FIJI:

UN Resident Coordinator Samarasinha: No plans to leave Fiji. The United Nations currently has about 1600 staff members and their dependents in Fiji, says Sanaka Samarasinha, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Fiji.

https://www.fijitimes.com/samarasinha-no-plans-to-leave-fiji/

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Humor in anti-corruption campaigns / Bangladesh balancing secrecy and transparency / UNGASS grand corruption agenda

Corruption Should Be a Laughing Matter (Blog).  “There are plenty of other examples of anticorruption activists effectively using humor as part of their campaigns…A Chinese artist known as Badiucao has used satirical art to bring attention to the ruling party’s political corruption, including a famous “promotional poster” for the TV series House of Cards, with Xi Jinping sitting on the throne instead of series villain Frank Underwood. His art helped spark renewed criticism of the regime and is credited with inspiring political cartoons throughout Hong Kong’s democratic uprising against China’s controversial 2019 extradition bill.”

Brooke Davies/The Global Anticorruption Blog:  https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/14/corruption-should-be-a-laughing-matter/

 

Whistleblowing and Secrecy Law: Where is the Balance? (Opinion).  “The rationality of such colonial-time regressive laws [such as the Official Secrets Act] needs to be assessed against our constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press... our legal framework should also provide avenues where such disclosures in public interest by investigative journalists and whistleblowers can get legal protection.”

Taslima Yasmin/The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/whistleblowing-and-secrecy-law-where-the-balance-2112365   

 

UNGASS 2021 ignores the grand corruption elephant but creates a pathway to improve the international framework (Blog).  “[In] April, almost a hundred civil society organisations called for creation of a special intergovernmental expert working group to do some in-depth work on gaps in the international legal framework and infrastructure to tackle globalised corruption, including grand corruption…As it turned out, UN member states did not create the proposed expert working group, but civil society efforts in that direction were not entirely in vain; the UNGASS political declaration did create a pathway for future UN discussions of gaps in the international framework”

Gillian Dell/Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/ungass-2021-ignores-grand-corruption-elephant-but-creates-pathway-improvement-international-framework  

Mongolia presidential candidates' policies / Nepal vaccine procurement / Malaysia migrant labor conundrum

Mongolia: presidential election candidates’ anti-corruption policy.  “Candidates from the three parliamentary parties made their election promises and participated in the Presidential Election of Mongolia. Election promises outline the following activities to be initiated and implemented in the fight against corruption.”

Sofie Arjon Schütte/University of Melbourne: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-presidential-election-candidates-anti-corruption-policy/  

 

Nepal’s Vaccine Disaster Has Left Millions Unprotected.  “A corruption scandal has led to the effective halt of the vaccination program—leaving many people unable to get the important second shot and even more without even their first…Even if the government had wanted to pay what was, in effect, a coercive demand by a middleman, Nepal’s public procurement law has no provisions that would allow the government to pay a commission to agents under a government-to-government deal.”

Arun Budhathoki/Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/14/nepal-vaccines-coronavirus-disaster/   

Malaysia’s migrant labour conundrum: A conversation with Andy Hall.  “Obviously, there are many things that need fixing when it comes to the issue of migrant workers. What more should the government do? There is so much of systemic corruption in the country. What we need is for the prime minister to take control of this issue, as the migration policy needs to be dictated by him because it is such an important issue for Malaysia.”

Supriya Surendran and Jenny Ng/The Edge Malaysia: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-migrant-labour-conundrum-conversation-andy-hall  

Malaysia 1MDB recovery / US FCPA enforcement / Philippines SEC crackdown

Goldman Sachs’ Malaysian unit to be sentenced over 1MDB role.  “Goldman Sachs Group Inc will have 10 days to pay the remaining US$1.26 billion (RM5.2 billion) of a US$2.3 billion penalty for its role in the 1MDB fraud scheme after its Malaysian unit is sentenced”

Free Malaysia Today: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/09/goldman-sachs-malaysian-unit-to-be-sentenced-over-1mdb-role/ 

 

Biden Memorandum on Combating Corruption Likely Means Increased FCPA Enforcement.  ““[The] Biden Administration issued a Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest… [It portends] the likelihood of increased enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by the Biden Administration going forward, not only by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) operating with increased enforcement resources, but also with the coordinated assistance of other federal departments and agencies including the Departments of State,”

JD Supra: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/biden-memorandum-on-combating-2557423/  

 

SEC targets financing, lending firms in dirty money crackdown.  “Some P11.5 billion worth of flagged transactions were assessed or a total 774 suspicious transactions from 2017 to 2019, some of which were found linked to illegal activities. Of the total, 4.9 percent was linked to the predicate crime of plunder, 2.5 percent to graft and corrupt practices,”

Iris Gonzales/The Philippine Star: https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/06/15/2105473/sec-targets-financing-lending-firms-dirty-money-crackdown

Calls for International Anti-Corruption Court / Mongolia external influence on investigators / Republic of Korea new anti-corruption agency

Declaration calls for an International Anti-Corruption Court.  “[More] than one hundred world leaders from over forty countries have signed a declaration calling for the creation of an International Anti-Corruption Court, in short IACC. The statement says that this new international body “is urgently needed to promote democracy and human rights, protect human life and health, and enhance international peace and security.””

Democracy Without Borders: https://www.democracywithoutborders.org/17123/statement-an-international-anti-corruption-court-is-urgently-needed/  

 

Mongolia: external influence on investigators.  “The Asia Foundation's Evaluation Team under the Asian Development Bank-supported “Strengthening the Anti-Corruption System” project in Mongolia, conducted questionnaires and one-on-one interviews with investigators from the Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia to determine whether there is any external influence in the lawful, fair, and independent investigation of corruption cases, and its negative impact. The assessment reveals that most respondents experience some sort of external influence, which has a major negative impact on the investigation”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-external-influence-on-investigators/  

 

Reforming South Korea’s New Anticorruption Agency: How to Promote Independence without Inducing Paralysis (Blog).  “the Ministers of Justice and Court Administration should be removed from the [Recommendation Committee of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials] and replaced with members less likely to succumb to the President’s influence, such as deans from the top law schools or prominent legal scholars…[or] have a representative from an intergovernmental organization, such as the United Nations or IMF, serve as a rotating member on the Committee.”

Vincent Wu/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/07/reforming-south-koreas-new-anticorruption-agency-how-to-promote-independence-without-inducing-paralysis/  

Bangladesh budget discussion / Myanmar new corruption case / Thailand NACC at UNGASS

MPs blast health ministry’s dereliction (Editorial).  “[During a Bangladesh’s] parliamentary discussion on the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2020-21, opposition lawmakers heavily criticised the health ministry for its failure to curb corruption and ensure healthcare for people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/news/mps-blast-health-ministrys-dereliction-2107269   

 

Myanmar authorities open new corruption cases against Suu Kyi.  “New corruption cases have been opened against Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other former officials from her government, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said… the accusations [are] related to the misuse of land for the charitable Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, which she chaired, as well as earlier accusations of accepting money and gold.”

Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-authorities-open-new-corruption-cases-against-suu-kyi-2021-06-10/  

 

NACC president delivers national anti-corruption statement to UNGASS.  “Police General Watcharapol Prasanrajkit, President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), as Head of the Thai delegation…delivered a national statement at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session Against Corruption (UNGASS). In the statement, the NACC President congratulated the members on the adoption of the political declaration and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to cooperating with the United Nations and international community in the fight against corruption and upholding the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2129495/nacc-president-delivers-national-anti-corruption-statement-to-ungass  

Indonesia war at KPK / Stakeholder analysis for effectiveness / Bangladesh vaccine procurement

An administrative war at the KPK: employees versus leadership (Blog).  “Over the last month, an administrative tug of war has gripped the anti-corruption community in Indonesia – and beyond. The dismantling of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reached a decisive point: the sudden, some say orchestrated, dismissal of some of its most dedicated employees.”

Sofie Arjon Schütte/University of Melbourne: https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/an-administrative-war-at-the-kpk-employees-versus-leadership/  

 

The “Big Reveals” from Stakeholder Analysis can be Central to Effective Change (Blog).  “Stakeholders wield formal and informal power and influence that can importantly impact reform.  Neglecting to identify and understand their influence can lead to technically sound but politically unfeasible solutions; can cause you to partner with the wrong players, or to craft messages that hinder rather than help your efforts.”

Rosemary Lark/Tufts University: https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/the-big-reveals-from-stakeholder-analysis-can-be-central-to-effective-change/   

 

TIB: Third party’s involvement behind vaccine crisis.  “The current vaccine crisis in Bangladesh has been created as the government depended on a single source for it through a third party on political considerations, bowing down to the pressure of a business quarter, alleged TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman…the government is much more active in controlling the flow of information than in controlling corruption in the country.”

Dhaka Tribune: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/06/08/tib-third-party-s-involvement-behind-vaccine-crisis  

Indonesia popular documentary / Malaysia on beneficial ownership / Myanmar speech at UNGASS

The EndGame film about the weakening of the KPK draws attention, WatchDoc is flooded with requests for Nobar.  “[The EndGame:] The Final Round Against Corruption, a documentary by Watchdoc Documentary Maker, has captured the public's attention…The EndGame film premiered on Saturday (5/5) last weekend. Watchdoc Documentary Maker shows the film for free and is open to all levels of society, through the nobar system.”

Reza Gunadha/Suara: https://www.suara.com/news/2021/06/07/193351/film-the-endgame-soal-pelemahan-kpk-sedot-perhatian-watchdoc-kebanjiran-permintaan-nobar  

 

Don't let the corrupt hide behind shell companies, UN members urged.  “In her first address to the UN General Assembly, Center to Combat Corruption and Corruption (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel [from Malaysia] called upon its member states to develop solutions to further strengthen the international anti-corruption framework…Gabriel urged them to introduce public registries of beneficial company owners…”

Malaysiakini: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/577731     

 

Myanmar’s UN envoy tells General Assembly about corruption in Myanmar.  “Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar gave a speech to the United Nations in New York at the Special Session of the UN General Assembly Plenary on Challenges and Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation this week. Here is the full text of his speech”

Mizzima: https://mizzima.com/article/myanmars-un-envoy-tells-general-assembly-about-corruption-myanmar

UNGASS opportunity for global agenda / Indonesia sacked investigator / Mongolia corruption risk assessment

An important opportunity to shape the global anti-corruption agenda (Blog).  “The UN General Assembly Special Session 2021, and its political declaration will provide the world with an opportunity to unite against corruption and move from commitment to action. UNDP reaffirms its commitment to supporting countries to strengthen transparency, accountability and anti-corruption in all development areas, to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for people and our planet.”

Sarah Lister and Anga Timilsina/UNDP: https://www.undp.org/blogs/important-opportunity-shape-global-anti-corruption-agenda  

 

Indonesian graft agency could be doomed, says sacked investigator.  “Bespectacled and blinded in one eye after a 2017 acid attack, Indonesia's most well-known anti-corruption investigator, Novel Baswedan, said his sacking last month could sound the death knell for the country's popular anti-graft body (KPK)… He is one of 75 employees dismissed for failing a civil service examination at an agency that has prosecuted hundreds of politicians, officials and businessmen over nearly two decades - and made powerful enemies.”

Stanley Widianto and Kate Lamb/Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesian-graft-agency-could-be-doomed-says-sacked-investigator-2021-06-03/    

 

Mongolia: corruption risk assessment in public institution.  “There are approximately 4200 government institutions in Mongolia. Therefore, it is not possible to conduct corruption risk assessment only on the initiative of the IAAC. Furthermore, it is necessary for government institutions to conduct corruption risk assessments on their initiative and take specific steps to improve their operation, in accordance with the framework of anti-corruption prevention.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-corruption-risk-assessment-in-public-institution/

New global anti-corruption network / Indonesia KPK weakened / Mongolia investigators workload

UN hails new anti-corruption network, as ‘important step’ to build trust, promote justice.  “With factors contributing to transnational corruption becoming increasingly complex, the UN launched [the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities] to “empower all countries” to find practical solutions and better tools to track, investigate and prosecute the scourge.”

UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093302  

 

Dismissals following controversial civics test further weaken Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency KPK (Statement).  “The decision to dismiss prominent anti-corruption investigators and commissioners will cast a shadow over the independence of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission…also known as KPK…Transparency International urges President Joko Widodo to use his executive powers for initiating the reversal of these damaging reforms to ensure KPK’s capacity to perform its important role, in adherence with Indonesia’s international commitments.”

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/press/dismissals-controversial-civics-test-further-weaken-indonesia-anti-corruption-agency-kpk  

 

Mongolia: high workload of investigators negatively affects the fight against corruption.  “The level of corruption in a country is highly dependent on the activities of the Anti-Corruption Authority, which is usually the only entity authorized to detect and investigate corruption crimes. Therefore, it is possible to fight corruption effectively by keeping the workload of the Anti-Corruption Authority’s investigators at a normal level and conducting investigations efficiently.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-high-workload-of-investigators-negatively-affects-the-fight-against-corruption/  

UNGASS president statement / G7 ministers UNGASS statement / Pakistan corruption stories

We won’t allow corruption to continue unchecked: UN Assembly president.  “Amidst a complex global vaccine roll-out effort, he urged policymakers to “leverage this special session” to take concrete measures to prevent and address corruption by closing loopholes and putting safeguards in place… The international community must continue adapting to new and emerging challenges, said Mr. Bozkir calling the special session “a key moment to galvanize a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder response” with a significant role for non-governmental organizations, civil society and others.”

UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093232  

 

G7 UNGASS Statement.  “We, the G7 Ministers, recognize that corruption is a pressing global challenge…We welcome the adoption of the action-oriented political declaration and commit to achieving its aims. Given our international responsibilities, we as the G7 recognise the need to enhance our efforts to prevent and combat corruption by leading by example.”

Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/g7-ungass-statement  

 

Govt to disclose corruption stories: Firdous.  “Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said… [Pakistan’s] government would soon disclose the salient features of the public transport project to the people to highlight its high cost and high recurring expenditures.”

The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/843274-govt-to-disclose-corruption-stories-firdous

Mongolia fines for bribery / Indonesia KPK challenge / COVID vaccine transparency report

The amount of fines for corruption crime and Mongolia's challenges.  “[One] of the most urgent tasks of the Mongolian legislature to effectively combat corruption and ensure social integrity is to set the amount of fines for corruption crime are “tied with” the amount of bribes and size of damages.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/the-amount-of-fines-for-corruption-crime-and-mongolia-s-challenges/   

 

KPK has survived assaults before. This time its luck may have run out.  “With President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo making very little effort to protect the KPK —his instruction to reinstate top investigators at risk of being laid-off has largely been ignored by the KPK leadership—it is likely that the agency will end up being a paper tiger and rendered ineffective. And while past efforts to weaken the KPK have been met with fierce resistance, both from politicians and civil society, today we only hear crickets and it is highly likely that the KPK saga will end not with a bang but with a whimper.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2021/06/01/kpk-has-survived-assaults-before-this-time-its-luck-may-have-run-out.html  

 

For whose benefit? Transparency in the development and procurement of COVID-19 vaccines (Publication).  “This report analyses transparency of two key stages of the vaccine development in chronological order: the development and subsequent buying of vaccines…[It] provides concrete recommendations on how to overcome current opacity in order to contribute to achieving the commitment of world leaders to ensure equal, fair and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.”

Transparency International: http://ti-health.org/content/for-whose-benefit-transparency-in-the-development-and-procurement-of-covid-19-vaccines/ 

Thailand Toyota bribery case / Myanmar post-coup everyday bribery / Malaysia corruption culture

DOJ Takes Toyota Thai Bribery Probe To Texas Grand Jury.  “The provisions meant to prevent corruption not only seem ineffective, they may be adding layers of red tape. We need measures to prevent graft balanced with the flexibility required for the government to be responsive in a crisis, be it in this pandemic or something else in the future.”

Law360: https://www.law360.com/articles/1388032/doj-takes-toyota-thai-bribery-probe-to-texas-grand-jury   

 

Anxiety, bribes and bullies: A journey through post-coup Myanmar.  “This is not a good time to travel without a Citizenship Scrutiny Card. Those who do are advised to carry extra cash to pay off soldiers and police at checkpoints… and to scrub their phones before their journey.”

Frontier Myanmar: https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/anxiety-bribes-and-bullies-a-journey-through-post-coup-myanmar/  

 

‘Corruption virus’ due to lack of transparency, accountability.  “A lack of transparency and accountability by people in positions of influence and power is like a virus that has infected all facets of Malaysian life… Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat said beyond institutional failures, what drives the Malaysian corruption culture is a sense.”

Hakem Hassan/The Sun Daily: https://www.thesundaily.my/local/corruption-virus-due-to-lack-of-transparency-accountability-AY7919741  

Pakistan NAB performance / Mongolia political official criteria / Afghanistan armed forces issue

PM expresses satisfaction over performance of NAB, Punjab Anti-Corruption Department.  “Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed satisfaction over the performance of Punjab Anti-Corruption Department and the National Accountability Bureau in the recovery of plundered amount. In a series of tweets…he said Punjab anti-corruption department has recovered two hundred and twenty billion rupees in the last 31 months of present government.”

Radio Pakistan: http://www.radio.gov.pk/26-05-2021/pm-expresses-satisfaction-over-performance-of-punjab-anti-corruption-department-nab 

 

Mongolia: MP submits draft law to establish criteria for political officials’ appointment.  “One of the criteria states that the political official shall not be linked with corruption or misconduct... Thus, setting criteria for political officials will intensify Mongolia's fight against nepotism and cronyism and can make a valuable contribution to effective anti-corruption activity.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-mp-submits-draft-law-to-establish-criteria-for-political-officials-appointment/

 

Afghan Forces Struggle, Demoralized, Rife With Corruption.  “Within the Afghan army, soldiers complain of substandard equipment, even shoddy basic items like army boots that fall apart within weeks because corrupt contractors used inferior material.”

Kathy Gannon/The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/afghan-forces-struggle-demoralized-rife-with-corruption/