Ensuring RTI implementation / MACC asset recovery / China holiday warning

How a simple information request is a powerful social accountability tool: lessons from Pakistan and the Maldives (Blog).  “The problem is that despite having [Right To Information] laws or policies in place, the public sector in many countries still has a culture of secrecy.”

Mahmoud Farag/Transparency International: https://voices.transparency.org/how-a-simple-information-request-is-a-powerful-social-accountability-tool-lessons-from-pakistan-33fc89179963

 

RM2.5 billion in cash seized, frozen since June: Malaysia's anti-graft agency.  The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized and frozen RM2.5 billion (US$604 million) in cash since June through its investigations into various corruption cases, including the one involving scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-anti-graft-agency-macc-seized-rm2-5-billion-cash-10769334

 

China graft watchdog warns officials about holiday excess.  The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) warned officials to stick to a stringent “frugality code” over the mid-Autumn festival next week and avoid receiving money or abusing public funds, the state-run China Daily said.

Adam Jourdan/Reuters: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-corruption/china-graft-watchdog-warns-officials-about-holiday-excess-idUKKCN1M801P

 

Yangon new Attorney-General / Pakistan recovers 20mil / Singapore immigration bribery

Yangon Parliament Approves New Attorney General.  The Yangon Parliament unanimously approved Daw Khin Myo Kyi as the new attorney general of Yangon Region, replacing U Han Htoo, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly taking bribes to drop a murder case.
 

The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/yangon-parliament-approves-new-attorney-general.html

 

NAB recovers Rs2.4 billion in 11 months.  Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) released the report of its performance of the last 11 months from October 2017 to September 2018, which stated 72 accused persons were convicted by the respective Accountability Courts in various references of corruption filed by NAB and recovered Rs2410.250 million (approx. 20 mil USD).

Asim Yasin/The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/372004-nab-recovers-rs2-4-billion-in-11-months

 

Singapore immigration officer charged in sex bribery case.  A Singapore immigration official was charged for allegedly receiving sexual favours from Chinese women in exchange for helping them extend their visas, a rare case of corruption in a city-state known for its clean image.

AFP/The Jakarta Post: http://www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2018/09/27/singapore-immigration-officer-charged-in-sex-bribery-case.html

Indonesia corruption-democracy survey / Myanmar anti-corruption drive / Right to Information report

Survey in Indonesia indicates corruption and intolerance are threats to democracy in the country.  Indonesians are satisfied with democracy, but corruption and intolerance continue to weigh on the system, according to a survey conducted in August by pollster Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI).

Linda Yulisman:https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/survey-in-indonesia-shows-corruption-and-intolerance-are-threats-to-democracy-in-the

 

Anti-corruption drive dodges political donations and criminal liability.  Nay Pyi Taw has stepped up its efforts to curb corruption by empowering the anti-graft body and reaching out to the private sector but crucially, there are still no criminal liability for offering bribes and no effective regulations on political donations.

Thompson Chau/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/anti-corruption-drive-dodges-political-donations-and-criminal-liability.html

 

Right to Information in Asia Pacific: How 11 Countries Perform on SDG 16.10 (Resource).  This regional report serves as a reference document, providing a broad overview of why right to information matters, where it stands in a range of countries in the region and what our key recommendations are.

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/right_to_information_in_asia_pacific

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (29 September 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Samoa

FIJI:

Former civil servants jailed to seven years for corruption. Two former employees of the then Public Works Department (PWD) have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment

http://www.fijitimes.com/former-civil-servants-jailed-to-seven-years-for-corruption/

Chinese National On Alleged Bribery Charge Denied Bail.  A Chinese national charged with brib­ery was denied his bail variation application by the High Court in Suva.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/09/28/chinese-national-on-alleged-bribery-charge-denied-bail/

Fiji court dismisses Chinese national’s application for bail variation. Qian Jun Shi is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of bribery.

http://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-court-dismisses-chinese-nationals-application-for-bail-variation/

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Former PNG University Vice-Chancellor Prof John Warren was facing the sack.  Former vice-chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of National Resources and Environment Prof John Warren, pictured, left as he was about to be sacked by the university council, says chancellor Prof Kenneth Sumbuk.

https://www.onepng.com/2018/09/former-png-university-vice-chancellor.html

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomons electoral office stops issuing voter ID cards over corruption concerns.  Concerns of corruption have prompted the electoral office in Solomon Islands to stop issuing voter identification cards to people wanting to switch constituencies.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367264/solomons-electoral-office-stops-issuing-voter-id-cards-over-corruption-concerns

Voter registration extended in Solomon Islands. The voter registration process in Solomon Islands which was supposed to end today has been extended until midday on Saturday.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367438/voter-registration-extended-in-solomon-islands

 

MARSHALL ISLANDS:

Remote Marshall Islands atoll plans to become the 'next Hong Kong'.  More than 5,000 kilometres away from his home in the Marshall Islands, the Mayor of Rongelap atoll, James Matayoshi, addressed hundreds of entrepreneurs, government officials and politicians in Hong Kong.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/366965/remote-marshall-islands-atoll-plans-to-become-the-next-hong-kong

 

TOKELAU:

Trouble abound in Tokelau as NZ investigation into alleged corruption stalls. An investigation into allegations of corruption in Tokelau has been stalled by a backlog of unaudited government accounts, adding to a growing basket of governance woes facing the New Zealand territory.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367421/trouble-abound-in-tokelau-as-nz-investigation-into-alleged-corruption-stalls

 

SAMOA:

Afamasaga investigation ongoing. The investigation into corruption allegations levelled at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure C.E.O. Afamasaga Su’a Pou Onesemo is yet to be completed. 

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/26_09_2018/local/37100/Afamasaga-investigation-ongoing.htm

 

Indonesia anti-corruption e-learning / Chinese anti-corruption model / Malaysia public complaint

Fighting corruption in Indonesia with Elearning.  KPK, in collaboration with the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and others joined the growing list national and political entities using eLearning for public education by launching their Anticorruption Academy, a free, open eLearning platform intended to help the general public identify and prevent corruption.

Henry Kronk/Elearning Inside: https://news.elearninginside.com/fighting-corruption-in-indonesia-with-elearning/

 

Govt urged to follow Chinese anti-corruption model.  The Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) said the government should follow the Chinese anti-corruption model to eradicate corruption and pave way for rapid national development.

Saeed Ahmed/The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/371973-govt-urged-to-follow-chinese-anti-corruption-model

 

IPCMC in line with the government's move to combat corruption.  Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that the cabinet had agreed to convert the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) into Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and the Public Complaints Bureau into Ombudsman Malaysia to ensure a more effective management of public complaints against enforcement authorities and government departments and agencies in Malaysia respectively.

New Straits Times: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/414104/ipcmc-line-governments-move-combat-corruption

Japan education ministry / Thailand construction transparency / State Audit Vietnam

Scandal-tainted ministry must regain discipline and public trust (Editorial).  “The ministry needs to ensure that the rules concerning officials’ contacts with interested parties will be observed strictly and re-examine the operations and responsibilities of each section to identify potential problems, if any, that could undermine the fairness of the administrative process.”

The Asahi Shimbun: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201809220031.html

 

Ministry looks to mandatory CoST scheme.  The Comptroller-General's Department is considering criteria that would include a minimum project value requiring the construction sector transparency initiative to be applied to state projects, the finance permanent secretary.

Wichit Chantanusornsiri/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1542610/ministry-looks-to-mandatory-cost-scheme

 

State Audit helps ensure corruption-free use of State budget: chief auditor (Interview).  “Some of the highlights in our works that have attracted public attention include investigations into the public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms, the management of natural resources (minerals, specifically), auditing the value of the State-owned enterprises and assessing State-owned enterprises’ restructuring plans.”

Interview with Dr. Ho Duc Phoc, Auditor General/Viet Nam News: http://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/466038/state-audit-helps-ensure-corruption-free-use-of-state-budget-chief-auditor.html#M0l71G60243k2h7E.99

 

Myanmar transfers corrupted / Tackle inequality first / Climate finance governance

Lawmakers Call for End to Disciplinary Transfers of Corrupt, Incompetent Officials.  Lawmakers have criticized the unofficial but long-standing practice of transferring civil servants to border and ethnic areas of the country as a disciplinary measure, and called for an end to such practice under a federal Union system.
 

Htet Naing Zaw/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/lawmakers-call-end-disciplinary-transfers-corrupt-incompetent-officials.html

 

To tackle corruption, start with inequality (Commentary).  “To truly resolve public anxieties about corruption and corrupt officials, it is not enough to stage high-profile arrests and trials. We must first address the widespread belief that our society has grown increasingly polarized between the rich and the poor.”

 

Li Hui/Sixth Tone: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002938/to-tackle-corruption%2C-start-with-inequality

 

Raising standards in climate finance: a new approach (Blog).  “If you’d like to find out which shortcomings are enabling corruption in [climate] adaptation finance and if you want to adopt a framework to measure governance standards, then you must read our report on the pilot!”

Md Mahfuzul Haque/Transparency International: https://voices.transparency.org/raising-standards-in-climate-finance-a-new-approach-5e1160b0312a