October 27, 2012
Can Asia Beat Corruption?
by Tunku Abdul Aziz@http://www.nst.com.my
ON October 2, I was invited to participate in a televised debate on corruption, organised by Channel News Asia as part of its Bridging Asia: The Singapore Debates. The motion before the house was “Can Asia Beat Corruption?”
Professor Mark Thompson, director, Southeast Asian Research Centre at the City University, Hong Kong, teamed up with prominent Singapore anti-corruption lawyer Wilson Ang to try and convince a critical studio audience that Asia could lick corruption, citing cases of countries once at the bottom of the Transparency International Perceptions Index and today showing signs of improvement.
They drew comfort from, and put great store by, the fact that nearly all Asian countries had introduced anti-corruption laws. But they forgot to mention that a million anti-corruption laws would amount to nothing without strong, effective enforcement.
In those countries, and to some extent in Malaysia, enforcement continued to be derisory. Laws are of course required for defining public service behaviour: they are essential for creating institutions, but of themselves, “as a deterrent to unethical public behaviour”, are largely ineffective.
Ann Florini, Professor of Public Policy, School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University and I were not persuaded that Asia could confront corruption decisively because, unlike Singapore or Hong Kong, there was no evidence of strong political will emerging any time soon in much of Asia.
Good governance was totally absent in seriously corrupt societies where best practices were more observed in the breach than the observance. In such countries, corruption would continue to run its course with little or no prospect of even reducing it marginally.
I said that in the case of Singapore, which was once a very corrupt colonial backwater, if at the time of independence the city state was run by a bunch of crooks instead of Lee Kuan Yew, the course of its history might have been quite different.
Countries in Asia that managed their affairs well and supported their institutions, the likes of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia, while still wrestling with corruption at the national level, apparently had a better chance of reducing corruption substantially over a shorter time frame.
Ann Florini and I won the debate against worthy opponents. The verdict was that as long as Asia continued to pay lip service to fighting corruption in their societies, it would invariably be regarded as a profitable, low-risk enterprise. Corruption would be in robust good health.
Electronic voting was employed by those in the studio as well as those watching at home. I must say they do these things extremely well in Singapore, as indeed we have come to expect. I believe it is the institutions in which they worked that made the difference. Strong institutions produce highly motivated and competent people.
I remain unabashed and unrepentant in my complete support of Prime 
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s national transformation programmes as I see in his initiatives a brave new approach to transparent and accountable governance for Malaysia, and not a day too soon.
Over the years, we have, largely by default, allowed unprincipled governance to take on a life of its own, with predictable consequences. These comprehensive transformation programmes, covering a whole range of critical social, economic, legislative and governance issues, once implemented, will help ensure for Malaysia a place of honour at the top table, among the “clean” nations of the world.
I am confident that as a result of these measures, we would be better armed and equipped to tackle the scourge of corruption head on. I am happy that the Najib administration has shown great moral strength to resist the temptation of turning the national transformation programmes into a political slogan: they are far too important for the long-term future of our nation to be trivialised and used as a political play thing.
They are not about scoring a political point. They are about getting the country out of its slumber, out of the rut and bouncing back with clear and transparent policies that will grow the economy, unite our people and ensure peace and harmony for all Malaysians.
The government should not be distracted by the mountains of lies and innuendoes spun without a break by the opposition “axis of evil”, with apologies to the junior Bush.
Najib must do whatever it takes legally to win big and win well to save the country from the clutches of unprincipled political adventurers, who, lacking experience, would be too risky a gamble to be allowed to govern this country.
Let me remind the Anwars and Guan Engs of this world that it is easier to destroy than to build.
Tunku Aziz is right about corruption. In Malaysia, it has become cancerous requiring urgent drastic action. But what is lacking is the political will to deal with it and taking action on obvious cases like Taib Mahmud, Musa Aman and Shahrizat’s NFC, among other things. The MACC is hampered by archaic laws like the MACC Act of 2009.
This DAP turncoat is too generous in his praise for Najib’s ETP. He should know that it is all talk but short on action. Wake Up. Tunku,awat hang nak bodek Najib sangat. Anwar and Guan Eng are not the problem. UMNO-BN is the one that must be thrown out of office by voters so that the fight against corruption can begin in earnest.
If the debate had been “Can the WORLD beat corruption” we would have had a more meaningful and relevant exchange of ideas.
He sound really convinced of his support for Najib. These kinds of things are not for old men nor prodigal children..It is not normal for countries to fight corruption absolutely as in the case of HK and Singapore. They are the exception..But its also true that the instance of those that indulge in corruption and self-reform is almost never too..We are not the exception like Singapore and HK hence not the possible exception that Tunku Aziz convinced himself possible..
That debate is not even the standard of debates we had in our schools in the 60s. They do not mean much. But anyway thank you YM Tunku for the report.
Whether Malaysia, Asia or the whole world can beat corruption or not would depend on how serious and how honest the people are prepared to fight corruption. For Tunku Aziz to condemn Anwar/LGE and praise the corrupted Najib/BN regime at this juncture is just an insult to intelligence.
what can you expect from NST, the paper which is the mouthpiece of umno and cronies?
what can you expect from a person like T. Aziz other than this pseudo-intellectual rojak with pro-bn election campaign as sauce?
corruption will beat the shit out of Asia if we don’t rid ourselves of spineless, incompetent and corrupt politicians as fast as possible. the writer himself should be aware of this.
corruption starts at the top (government) just like the fish that starts to stink at the head first.
since we are convinced that corruption is rampant in Malaysia, what better way is there than to kick out the party that has been ruling/ruining us for past 55 years?
is that difficult to understand Herr Tunku A.. Aziz?? Gesundheit!
Hope YM Tunku Aziz is correct and Najib’s transformation policies will need time to show any positive effects but it depends on their effective implementation & enforcement. The problem is that time may not be on Najib’s side if he is not seen as taking serious actions now to deal with all the the alleged big-fish corruptions talked about in public.
Tunku Aziz has finally tasted Najib’s honey,perhaps now that he’s barking the loudest, he can contest a seat on behalf of Umno,after all a Senatorship only last 2 terms.Oouch!!
What concrete outcome has Jibby actually “transformed” in his so called programme till to date? PKFZ? Cow condos? Unsinkable submarines? The blatant act of bribery in the infamous “you help me I help you” “janji” to the voters in his election campaigns?
In the latest episode of the attempt to “courier” S$16 million cash from Hong Kong to Malaysia, all he could muddle was to say that the money was a political donation, and hence that was lawful, and would not reveal the source since “the other side” was also receiving donation and would not reveal the source. The list of supposedly transformations that Jibby talked but did not walk is just endless.
I used to be very impressed by this Tunku’s presentations on corruption issues when he was with the TI-Malaysia. When he joined DAP he was singing praise of DAP and LKS and in later stage Anwar. But after he left them its all bad mouthing. He has since been singing praise of JIbby. When and if Jibby is replaced, will he be singing a different tune? If he is so convinced of Jibby transformation initiatives and measures, he needs not have to reiterate that he “remain unabashed and unrepentant” in his complete support of Jibby, unless he has doubts about the results. I wonder in what ways he did see that Jibby’s “administration has shown great moral strength to resist the temptation of turning the transformation programmes into a poltical slogans”.
Are not those acronyms created by his “labs” of advisers and consultants alpha-numerics slogans? 1-This , 1-That, Utamakans, Janjis, Dapatis, Naj1b, and what not. He wrote in the end that Jibby ” must do whatever it takes legally to win big and win well to save the country from the clutches of unprincipled political adventurers, who, lacking experience, would be too risky a gamble to be allowed to govern this country”. Hahaha, the clutches of unprincipled political adventurers referred to by this Tunku are actually those experienced and corrupt bunch that have been blundering and plundering the nation of its wealth. And while he is advising Jibby to do whatever it takes LEGALLY to win.
Is he suspecting that Jibby may do whatever it takes OTHERWISE to win big and win well? Just how principled and how “clean” he expect Jibby to be and really serious and not just paying lips service in his transformation programmes and fight against corruption? Perhaps it would be better for him to keep quiet and stick to his tanks of ornamental fishes.
The will to change is right. Our present establishment has no will for changes because the stakes are too high. It’s not about corruption now. It is survival for the corrupter.
Now, should we give Najib & Co more time? The answer is a big NO. Like what the author wrote, “Can Najib (Asia) beats corruptions?”. The author has answered his own question.
TINTED leaders have no credibility in this area, especially politicians. You are asking dalmatian to rids its spots.
Our whole establishment has rotten to its core and even ordinary Malaysians, when doing business practises the same way by inflating prices.
Now, what do one do with rotten apples. We discard it to rotten till it meet its maker. Some may say that we can cut away the rotten part and the rest is edible. Yes, ‘the rotten part’. What we have now after 55 years is the rotten ‘CORE’. You can never savage a rotten core?
The author is spinning for Najib & Co. Just that. There is still no will to change and never will be. We sacrifices the cows for our sins. Would Najib & Co sacrifices their wealth and prosecute their kind for Malaysia. I dare bet my life that that day will never come.
So, please let not waste time. Elect an able establishment and move on. We need to start with Pakatan. If they don’t perform and BN has proven their worth they can still be re-elected. But right now BN must GO.
In our haste for change we must not forget to put in place a workable regulatory mechanisn that is truly independent and out of the reach of politicians. Otherwise a few years down the road we shall almost certainly face similar if not worse problems.
Do away with the Upper House and put in its place a much smaller ELECTED body,,, a parallel political system… one that governs and the other that provides oversight,
Encik Isa,
We have already a parallel judicial system of the civil & syariah at the High Court level & below and it has created lots of complications. If we embark on a parallel political system, as proposed by you, we might invite more problems in the future. We should avoid solutions or changes that may introduce more problems
Tuan Hussin : Yes I agree but how else to ensure that we keep politicians in check? This is not only a Malaysian problem… as the Euro debt crisis has highlighted. There almost the entire political establishment has surrendered its duty… and all due to there being lax or no controls.
The Senates (or the House of Lords in the UK) of most countries were designed for the purpose of keeping politicians in check but have failed miserably. The chief reason is that these “elders” too are beholden to the very politicians they are supposed to watch over.
That is why an ELECTED body out of the reach of politicians is worth a try. This will not add any new layer if it replaces Upper Houses.
This fellow’s continuous apple polishing of Najib only serves to confirm his current pay-master. Pity the man – the things he has to do in his retirement.
Encik Isa, you have a genuine concern. To have another parallel & independently elected body (like the US Senate perhaps) may not solve the problems in our Malaysian environment. The candidates will listen to you before being elected but once elected they have their own agenda.
If we look back, the Internet has been around here only about a decade ago but the people are turning it into a very effective tool, especially in the last 5 years or so, to influence political parties, the citizens at large and even the government agencies. Give it a bit more time and the IT conciousness will spread more widely into the rural areas. Insha Allah, IT can contribute very effectively towards providing an element of check & balance by the people.
Another turncoat balls carrier who sings a totally tune now that his rice-bowl has been dashed to the ground, together with his over-blown ego and misperception that his opinions matter in Malaysia.
” it is easier to destroy than to build.” What did he ever build that was worth destroying?
Retire gracefully, Tunku, and we may yet forgive you.
Dpp
we are all of 1 Race, the Human Race
“Can Asia beat corruption?”
The title of the debate is so sad! Why not “Can the world beat corruption?” Why just “Asia”? Does this mean there is no corruption in other parts of the world?
After so many years, Asians still have the mentality of being subservient to Americans and Europeans! We keep believing that corruption is an Asian sickness.
No! Corruption is not an Asian sickness. It is very much prevalent in Western societies and very much legally allowed and encouraged. In the US, they have lobby groups who are paid millions to lobby politicians. This is legalised corruption! There are many more examples of legalised corruptions such as this in the West.
And we still think that corruption is evil and as Asians, we should be ashamed.
Can’t we have more dignity of ourselves?
Encik Zamri, with due respect to your opinion, corruptions in any forms or manners are evil – both the givers & the receivers should be punished. However if they are institutionalised & legalised, as your examples show, some lawyers will say those corruptions are OK and acceptable as they are regulated & transparent!
Tuan Hussin,
1. Most, if not all, bodies that are supposed to oversee politicians are appointed and not elected… if we alter this system so that we have elected bodies to regulate I believe this will be a step in the right direction.
2. The way the Internet is going I fear that it will not be long before many governments will curtail it. For governments who have things to hide, the free exchange of ideas will be the signal to clamp down. What happens in Europe and the US will be good indicators.
Sadly the Tunku does not understand the meaning of “leegalised” corruption which is not only a problem for Singapore but the whole world starting from Wall Street bankers.I hope he gets it soon.
The incoming new big red dragon king Mr Xi is extremly keen to learn from Singapore the secret of LEEGALISED CORRUTION,I am praying hard that Singapore PAP would see the danger of these big red dragons master the trick of LEEGALISED CORRUPTION.
Hello Jack,
Your two postings @6:12am and @6:15am are interesting. Many thought Singapore is a shining example to the world in terms of its recognized success in effectively keeping corruptions in check. Could you please elaborate with some examples of your claims. Thanks.
@Hussin
Sir,thank you very much for your comment.
The web below gives some ideas about the meaning of LEEGALISED CORRUPTION in Singapore.
The truth behind the High salary to prevent corruption theory …
http://www.tremeritus.com/…/the-truth-behind-the-high-salary-to-
But to be fair to mr Lee KY,he was not the inventor of LEEGALISED CORRUPTION,the real curpits are the power that be from the West,especially the corrupted Wall Street bankers who Mr Lee admired greatly.Cheers
Dear Tunku,
I was one of your admirers before. But of late you are not the same person. Has that spat with DAP made you so blind to all the goings on? Would you suggest that Najib could govern Singapore as well as their leaders whom you have so much praise for? If you do, then you are not only blind but also senile. Bye, old friend.