Transparency for inclusiveness / Singapore construction business / Thai corruption cost

Transparency is key to inclusive employment and government integrity.  “According to the Global Competitiveness Report….“corruption interferes with the allocation of resources to their most efficient uses and undermines growth in five main ways (citing three): it leads to a misallocation of human capital, because talent is incentivized to engage in rent-seeking activities rather than productive work; it results in loss of tax revenue; it pushes inappropriate public spending, because government officials are tempted to allocate expenditures less on the basis of promoting public welfare than on the opportunity they provide for extorting bribes”.

Silvia Moschini, World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/transparency-is-key-to-inclusive-employment-and-government-integrity/

 

Construction, building maintenance activities 'areas of concern' in Singapore’s fight against corruption.  Two construction industry business leaders bribed a former Resorts World Sentosa director with approx. US$220,000 in order to advance their business interests, but they were eventually found out by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/construction-building-maintenance-activities-areas-of-concern-in-11478062

 

Hopewell saga reveals true cost of political corruption (Opinion).  When politicians and bureaucrats are corrupt or incompetent or both, taxpayers are the ones who suffer most. This was amply demonstrated by the Supreme Administrative Court’s latest ruling that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) must pay Bt11.88 billion (US$371.35 mil) in compensation plus interest to the Hong Kong-based Hopewell Company.

The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30368403

Business no-gift policy / C20 policy pack / Finance firms risks

No Gifts…No Problems (Blog).  “‘After joining [Thailand’s Private Sector Collective Action Coalition against Corruption] CAC, we have established a strict policy on gift-giving. We eventually decided to go above and beyond and institute a no-gift policy. Initially, gift expectations were still there but they significantly decreased after the announcement,’ one business owner said. The business owner added, “the company’s expenses for holiday gifts have been reduced by 50% compared to last year.”

Pana Ratanabanangkoon:http://cctrends.cipe.org/no-giftsno-problems/

Thank you to Phisanu Phromchanya for sharing this article.

 

C20 Policy Pack 2019 (Resource).  See policy recommendations on anti-corruption from C20 (civil society organizations from G20 countries) outlined in pages 8-12

C20: https://civil-20.org/2019/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/C20-POLICY-PACK-2019_web.pdf

 

Corruption contagion: How legal and finance firms are at greater risk of corruption.  Companies with fewer levels of management such as legal, accountancy and investment banking firms could be up to five times more susceptible to corruption than similar sized organizations with a taller structure such as those in manufacturing, a new study by the University of Sussex and Imperial College has revealed.

University of Sussex/Phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2019-04-corruption-contagion-legal-firms-greater.html

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (27 April 2019): Solomon Islands, PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Micronesia and Nauru

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Development and the 2019 elections in Solomon Islands. Some of the reasons for this mismanagement are easily understood: the corrupting power of logging money, for example. Others are less simple. Not all Solomon Islands politicians are corrupt – many care for their country.

http://www.devpolicy.org/development-and-2019-elections-solomon-islands-20190423/

Protests erupt in Solomon Islands as Manasseh Sogavare elected Prime Minister for fourth time. Several MPs opposed to Mr Sogavare sought an injunction against the ballot and walked out of the vote when they failed to stop it.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-24/manasseh-sogavare-becomes-soloman-islands-prime-minister-again/11043578

A Cultural Defense to Bribery? The Solomon Islands’ Approach (Blog).  “Instead of capping the monetary value or limiting the type of gifts which public officials are allowed to accept, the [Anti-Corruption Act passed in 2018] introduced a new cultural defense to…bribery of public officials. According to this defense, a public official who accepts or solicits something of value, as well as the individual who offers or gives it, is not guilty of bribery if the defendants can prove that their respective acts were conducted: (1) “in accordance with custom,” (2) “openly, in the course of a traditional exchange of gifts,” and (3) “for the benefit of a community or group of people and not for an individual.”

https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/04/15/a-cultural-defense-to-bribery-the-solomon-islands-approach/

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Governance and Corruption in PNG’s Public Service: Insights From Four Subnational Administrations (Resource).  “Findings [from interviews with public servants] suggest that policies that aim to support and inform the less enfranchised (women and junior staff) are particularly important for addressing corruption in PNG. However, this paper argues that efforts to shift the status quo must take into account the contextually-specific relationships between bureaucrats, politicians and citizens, which vary across time and space.”

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3365319

Call to end delays around corruption in PNG. A long-touted Independent Commission Against Corruption could be finally about to fly in Papua New Guinea, but the government's critics remain skeptical.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/387762/call-to-end-delays-around-corruption-in-png

Political Meddling, Poor Training Spur Graft in Papua New Guinea. A newly-published discussion paper on corruption in Papua New Guinea’s public sector found that low-level officials are often poorly informed about laws and regulations and are under intense pressure to grant favors to businesses, politicians and clan affiliates, contributing to existing patterns of corrupt behavior in the developing country.

https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/9639-political-meddling-poor-training-spur-graft-in-papua-new-guinea

NGO wants PNG anti-corruption body to be strong. Transparency International says it's waiting to see how strong the Papua New Guinea government's planned Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will be.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/387367/ngo-wants-png-anti-corruption-body-to-be-strong

 

FIJI:

Man admits to committing corruption offences. A man charged with offences regarding the misuse of funds under the Help for Homes initiative pleaded guilty in the Suva Magistrates court.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/man-admits-to-committing-corruption-offences/

 

SAMOA:

Samoa caught up in cryptocurrency scam - Central Bank. Samoan businesses, churches and individuals have been implicated in a multi-billion dollar global cryptocurrency scam.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/387800/samoa-caught-up-in-cryptocurrency-scam-central-bank

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA:

Bid to expel journalist from Yap puts spotlight on Micronesian ‘free’ media. Traditional chiefs are trying to expel a US journalist from the Federated States of Micronesia island of Yap.

https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/04/26/bid-to-expel-journalist-from-yap-puts-spotlight-on-micronesian-free-media/

 

NAURU:

Nauru denies former president's claim offshore detention deal led to corruption.  The government of Nauru has branded claims by its former president that the country’s offshore detention deal with Australia had led to corruption and greed on the island “pure fiction”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/25/nauru-denies-former-presidents-claim-offshore-detention-deal-led-to-corruption

  

  

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

China BRI image / Indonesia legal reform / SOEs and collusion

China's Belt and Road getting reboot to clean up its image.  Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grand Belt and Road Initiative is getting a makeover to tone down government rhetoric and tighten oversight, after allegations of corruption and a lack of sustainability dogged some of its highest-profile projects.

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/04/23/chinas-belt-and-road-getting-reboot-to-clean-up-its-image/

 

Opaque deals threatening Indonesia’s resources.  The Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is promoting legal reforms to address complex corruption schemes that have been recently highlighted by investigations into alleged cases of corruption in politics, vote buying, bribery in exchange for mining permits, and environmental damages.

UNODC: https://spark.adobe.com/page/NYK0B6dZlIBB7/

 

Privatization Promotes Collusion and Corruption (Opinion).  “Privatization is expected by many to promote competition and eliminate corruption. In practice, the converse has been true as privatization beneficiaries have successfully colluded and engaged in new types of corruption to maximize their own gains.”

Jomo Kwame Sundaram/Inter Press Service: http://www.ipsnews.net/2019/04/privatization-promotes-collusion-corruption/

Maritime sector compliance / Thai concerns surveyed / UNDP business integrity

Stamping out corruption in the maritime sector.  “[International Chamber of Shipping] is hoping the current developments will result in [International Maritime Organization] IMO     guidelines or an inclusive IMO Code of Best Practice to implement and embrace anti-corruption practices and procedures. It notes: "Any such action would align IMO regulations and requirements for the maritime industry with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)…”

David Hughes/Singapore Law Watch: https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Headlines/stamping-out-corruption-in-the-maritime-sector

Thank you to John Hyde for sharing this article.

 

Politics, corruption are biggest problems: Poll.  A poll asked what is worst about Thailand, 52.22% cited politics, the behaviour of politicians and corruption; 25.80% the lack of democracy and freedom; 19.82% the poor economy; 19.18% the lack of unity; and 15.34% air pollution, garbage and traffic conditions. (Wealth inequality did not appear to have been offered as a possible answer choice in the poll.)

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1664720/politics-corruption-are-biggest-problems-poll

 

Private Sector Advisory Group Report.  Learn more about UNDP’s “Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN” project Private Sector Advisory Group, their discussion and vision on business integrity and responsible business conduct by clicking below.

UNDP: https://spark.adobe.com/page/j9TBzRDmjELvO/

India polls canceled / Thai monk jailed / Malaysia Road Department

Polls cancelled in Indian city over £1.2m cash bribe.  Polling was cancelled in Vellore, a city in southern India following the discovery of suitcases containing approx. US$1.56 mil in cash which investigators believe was to bribe voters taking part in the world’s biggest election.

Hugh Tomlinson/The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/polls-cancelled-in-indian-city-over-1-2m-cash-bribe-vb0wlwfts

 

Senior monk gets 26 years in jail for helping ‘embezzle’ temple funds.  Phra Khru Kitti Patcharakhun, an abbot/monastic chief received a 26-year jail term for colluding with a former National Buddhism Office (NBO) chief to embezzle more than US$752,500 out of 878,000 of funds given to 12 temples based in Thailand.

Kesinee Tangkhieo/The Nation: https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367932

 

After MACC swoop, JPJ sets up internal taskforce on corruption.  Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) has set up an internal task force to study procedures within the department to eliminate corruption following the arrest of 24 of its officers in Penang.

M. Kumar/The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/20/after-macc-swoop-jpj-sets-up-internal-task-force-on-corruption/

UNCAC Handbook available / UNODC Southeast Asia update / Open Contracting channel

At Last: An UNCAC Handbook (Blog/Resource).  “With the publication of The United Nations Convention Against Corruption: A Commentary, those looking for authoritative guidance on UNCAC no longer need to sort through the voluminous literature the convention has spawned: UNODC guides, StAR publications, academic commentary, and international and municipal court decisions.”

Rick Messick/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/04/17/at-last-an-uncac-handbook/

 

Corruption investigations in the Greater Mekong Subregion (Newsletter).  An update of the work UNODC Southeast Asia has support in the first quarter of 2019.

UNODC: https://spark.adobe.com/page/UIExmYAJZ6sFP/

 

Open Contracting: Boosting Transparency, Accountability And Impact of Government Contracting (Outreach/Tool).  An introductory video to a new YouTube channel of the Open Contracting Partnership.

Open Contracting Partnership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHbOkfZwN7A