Meaningless CPI comparison / Malaysia procurement complaints / Korean business embezzlement

A Reminder: Year-to-Year CPI Comparisons for Individual Countries are Meaningless, Misleading, and Should Be Avoided (Blog).  “In brief, score changes can sometimes be driven by technical changes (such as changes in the underlying sources used to calculate the scores), and there’s so much statistical noise in the CPI estimates that small changes are often not statistically meaningful–and even for those changes that are statistically significant at conventional levels, one would expect that in a sample of 180 countries, some would exhibit “statistically significant” changes even if it were all random noise.”

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog:  https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/01/29/a-reminder-year-to-year-cpi-comparisons-for-individual-countries-are-meaningless-misleading-and-should-be-avoided/

 

Procurement sector records highest corruption complaints.  It was revealed during the launch of the Malaysian National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023 (NACP) by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday that in the last five years, the procurement sector recorded 42.8% of the total complaints.

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/29/procurement-sector-records-highest-corruption-complaints/

 

Samyang Foods tarnished by CEO’s embezzlement.  Through document manipulation, paper companies set up by the President and Chairman couple received payments from Samyang Foods from 2008 to 2017; they were found to have embezzled US$ 4.5 mil.

Nam Hyun-woo/The Korea Times:https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2019/01/694_262737.html

Corruption Perceptions Index / Malaysia Anti-Corruption Plan / Thai university declarations

Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 (Resource).  More than two-thirds of countries score below 50 on this year’s CPI, with an average score of just 43. 

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/cpi2018

 

PM launches Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Plan.  The National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019-2023 (NACP) launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seeks to deal with the country’s four main causes of corruption: administrative failure (the manipulation of systems and procedures), conflict of interest (relating to discretionary power, absolute power and political interference), weak internal control and non-compliance, and a lack of transparency.

Bernama: http://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?src=ilaw&id=1689930

 

University councillors escape asset declarations.  The Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to exempt university council chairs and members from having to declare their assets and liabilities, although an earlier version published in the Royal Gazette late last year required senior officials to do so.

King-oua Laohong/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1617898/university-councillors-escape-asset-declarations

Japanese company ex-chief / Indonesia traces assets / Hong Kong rail scandal

Macron tells Abe he is worried about Carlos Ghosn's time in prison.  The French president’s comment on the ex-Nissan chief’s detention since Ghosn was indicted for allegedly understating his income at Nissan and transferring personal trading losses to the carmaker.

The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/28/national/politics-diplomacy/macron-tells-abe-worried-carlos-ghosns-time-prison/#.XE6yfVwzaUk

 

Indonesia takes steps to trace stolen assets hidden abroad.  Indonesian President Joko Widodo has revealed that after several years of delay, Indonesia and Switzerland will soon ratify a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement which will make it possible to trace illegal financial activities between Indonesian and Swiss financial institutions.

Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma/Asia Times: http://www.atimes.com/indonesia-takes-steps-to-trace-stolen-assets-hidden-abroad

 

Hong Kong’s Hung Hom station is safe and building must go on, award-winning engineer Mike Glover tells inquiry into scandal. An award-winning engineering expert has called on Hong Kong authorities to allow the expansion of Hung Hom station to continue despite a construction corruption scandal, telling an inquiry that the building is safe.

Cannix Yau/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/2182596/hong-kongs-hung-hom-station-safe-and-building-must-go-award

Integrity Pact myth / 1MDB companies probe / NepalLeaks expose reports

Powerful tool or paper tiger? Integrity Pacts reality checked – Part 1 (Blog).  “Claim #1: Having an Integrity Pact is a certification of a corruption-free procedure. Reality Check: Sadly not!”

Transparency International: https://voices.transparency.org/powerful-tool-or-paper-tiger-integrity-pacts-reality-checked-part-1-88da22db740d

 

Deloitte and KPMG investigated over involvement in Malaysia’s 1MDB corruption scandal.  The Malaysian Securities Commission confirms it is looking to the firms to determine if they were “aiding and abetting in this scandal, or merely negligent.”; this move comes after criminal charges have already been filed against Goldman Sachs.

Tashny Sukumaran/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2183715/abetting-scandal-or-merely-negligent-deloitte-and-kpmg

 

#NepalLeaks: How Illegal Funds Are Channeled Into Nepal In the Name Of Foreign Direct Investment.  An expose of massive operations in which business people funnel illegal income through tax haven countries and repatriate the wealth into Nepal as Foreign Direct Investment.

Centre for Investigative Journalism-Nepal/Kathmandu Tribune: https://kathmandutribune.com/nepalleaks-how-illegal-funds-are-channeled-into-nepal-in-the-name-of-foreign-direct-investment/

Corruption and taxes / Malaysia reporting protection / Indonesia presidential support

The effect of corruption perception on tax revenues (Op-ed).  “The effect that corruption perception can have on tax revenue collection is interesting, since citizens might find a moral ground to evade taxes.”

Meliha Ahmed/Dhaka Tribune: https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2019/01/21/the-effect-of-corruption-perception-on-tax-revenues

 

Graft cases on the rise in Malaysia because people no longer fear reporting them: PM Mahathir.  Speaking on Malaysia’s experiences in fighting corruption at the International Anti-Corruption Academy, Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is giving people who report corruption cases more protection under the whistleblowers act.

Asia News Network: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-corruption-cases-rise-mahathir-11151114

 

Hopes of ending graft lie in presidential support (Analysis).  “If the President can control corruption in the police and prosecutor’s office, KPK commissioners and its staff will not have to fear being criminalized when they investigate corruption among the political elite.”

J. Danang Widoyoko/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/01/25/hopes-of-ending-graft-lie-in-presidential-support.html

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (26 Jan 2019): Micronesia, Samoa, PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA:

Businessman charged with bribing Hawaii, FSM officials. A Hawaii businessman has been charged with dishing out bribes of nearly half a million dollars to officials in Hawaii and the Federated States of Micronesia.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380539/businessman-charged-with-bribing-hawaii-fsm-officials

Public Auditor hosts talent show for International Anti-Corruption Day.The Pohnpei Office of the State Public Auditor (POPA) united with the Youth-4-Change to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day at the Kolonia/China Friendship Gymnasium

http://www.kpress.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1194:public-auditor-hosts-talent-show-for-international-anti-corruption-day&catid=8&Itemid=103

 

SAMOA:

“What corruption?” Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi yesterday rejected allegations of corruption within the Government and the public service.

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/24_01_2019/local/40435/%E2%80%9CWhat-corruption%E2%80%9D.htm

Samoa MP Pa'u Sefo Pa'u dies.  He had been an MP twice before, but his terms were cut short by corruption charges.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380520/samoa-mp-pa-u-sefo-pa-u-dies

 

PNG:

In PNG, a fallen bridge is testament to the chasm in rural development.  On the southern bank of the Banab, local travelers waiting for the next transport to Madang town cite corruption throughout all levels of government as the main reason for the delays, a familiar narrative echoed in many of PNG’s rural areas.

https://news.mongabay.com/2019/01/in-png-a-fallen-bridge-is-testament-to-the-chasm-in-rural-development/

Labi to face court after fraud charges. Former Moresby North-East MP Labi Amaiu has been committed to appear in the National Court in Waigani on fraud related charges involving the Duran Farm Housing project in Port Moresby.

https://postcourier.com.pg/labi-face-court-fraud-charges/

 

FIJI:

Proposed Law ‘Keeps Our Leaders Accountable’.  Suva lawyer Richard Naidu says a code of conduct should be a good thing because it should keep our leaders accountable.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/01/20/proposed-law-keeps-our-leaders-accountable/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomon Islands province bans logging in bid to protect environment.  Central Island province in the Solomon Islands has blocked new logging and mining operations in an apparent attempt to halt the degradation of the archipelago’s sensitive ecosystems.

https://news.mongabay.com/2019/01/solomon-islands-province-bans-logging-in-bid-to-protect-environment/

 

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

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

Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Chinese business loss / Thai anti-corruption curriculum / Malaysia corruption reporting

Chinese drone maker DJI uncovers corruption, sees $150 million loss. China’s SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, the world’s largest maker of consumer drones, has discovered several cases of serious corruption at the company and expects 2018 losses of more than 1 billion yuan ($150 million) as a result.

 Josh Horwitz and Brenda Goh/ Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-dji/chinese-drone-maker-dji-uncovers-corruption-sees-150-million-loss-idUSKCN1PC158

 

Putting a stamp on graft.  An anti-graft study programme at Thai universities lies at the kernel of "Youngsters with Good Hearts", an anti-corruption curriculum for students in tertiary education designed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the support of United Nations Development Programme.

Apiradee Treerutkuarkul/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1614002/

 

NGO: Detailed evidence more important than screen captures, photos in corruption cases.  People who report instances of abuse or corruption to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) observing the parliamentary by-election here need to furnish more details for verification than just a screen-capture or photograph, often forwarded from other social media users, with no details to back up allegations.

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/19/ngo-detailed-evidence-more-important-than-screen-captures-photos-in-corruption-cases/