"Angkor Wat concession, land concessions to foreigners, illegal logging and even appointing defectors from other parties who joined his own party to high paid government positions is tantamount to corruption because it is squandering public money for one’s own interests."Wednesday, February 20, 2008
"Cambodia at presence is poor not because Cambodia is poor in potential, but poor because of the mismanagement and corruption of our leaders."
Editorial by Khmerization
Originally posted at http://khmerization.blogspot.com
Corruption has become part of the Khmer society and has been practised by the Khmer office-holders for as long as one can remember. It has embedded in the mentality of our leaders, public servants and office-holders that taking bribes is the norm and that it is not tantamount to corruption but, rather, it is a charge or a fee for the service rendered, forgetting that they have already been paid from the tax-payers‘ money to serve the people. This mentality is completely wrong!
Coming back to the survey by Transparency International, reported in the article below, it doesn’t surprised me of the responses. Corruption, as I mentioned earlier, has existed in the Khmer society for generations. But it was not at the level that we are seeing under the current government.
Corruption had existed in every society, white, black or yellow. The only difference is the will to tackle or to curb it from becoming a social ill. In the Western countries corruption, if not completely eliminated, had been effectively curbed to minimal. With political will, well-established, strong and independent institutions, corruption had been almost completely brought to a halt. Corrupt officials, no matter what positions they hold, even the prime minister, will be prosecuted.
On the contrary, corruption in Cambodia has been allowed to go on and go on, on a large scale without any political will to tackle it. This is so because corruption in Cambodia has been practised from the top leadership down to the bottom ladder. From prime minister down to the grassroots officials corruption has been practised openly. Angkor Wat concession, land concessions to foreigners, illegal logging and even appointing defectors from other parties who joined his own party to high paid government positions is tantamount to corruption because it is squandering public money for one’s own interests.
Cambodia at presence is poor not because Cambodia is poor in potential, but poor because of the mismanagement and corruption of our leaders. Corruption has drained state treasury dried. It has costed the country $500 million dollars annually which would have been put to better use in infrastructure building, health and education. Our education and health systems are at dilapidated states. Patients are forced to pay phenomenal amount to use public healthcare and hospitals. Students are forced to pay a huge sum of money to enrol and to bribe their teachers.
This level of corruption must not be allowed to go on. One of the way to reduce, not eliminate it because it is not possible, is to change the government and our leaders. I heard people were saying that “all the Cambodian leaders are the same. They are all corrupt. Why should we change the leaders?” While their statements are correct to a certain extent, I do not agree that they are all the same and that we should not change the leaders. In the Western democracies, take America for example, the leaders have been changed every so often that sometimes it is difficult to remember them. And their countries are progressing so impressively.
Those who said that “all Khmer leaders are corrupt and shouldn’t be replaced” are resisting change and advocating dictatorship. These kinds of people have interests at stake if changes are to occur. Change in Cambodia must take place and take place sooner rather than later.
15 comments:
Great reflection!
I am absolutely agreeing that "change" is important. Peoples who are resisting change in Cambodia because of their previous Post Traumatic Stress Disease (PTSD), fear, uneducated, and personal profit/position.
So, the voice of no "change" need in Cambodia or opinion of "every politician is the same" is just another social hostile group for progressive Cambodia.
KY
I also agree with you, 3:18 pm. Change is the only way leading us to real democratic country and prosperity. We really need CHANGE.
May God bring doom to the corrupt and victory and prosperity to the democrat.
Rgds,
Quite frankly, everyone, at least in part, has an idea to bring about changes in our beloved country, yet I have not seen anyone who is audacious enough to spearhead changes, because, it's quite apparent that we're fear of reprisal or retaliation against our loved ones and friends back home.
Therefore, at least in my opinion, people revolution is the only viable option to bring about changes in our country. Perhaps we have to break a few eggs (sacrifice people)to make an omalette (our dying and abused democracy).
Or, will we EVER see a catalyst of change in our shrinking country?
Soon or later, someone needs to step up to the plate to lead the people how are we going to bring about changes in our homeland.
Change, who has the power to change, for sure leaders. No way, we can not expect our leader to initiate change (may I include the our KING !).
The most feasible option is people power. I urge some of you to form a visible groups who can initiate change at least a grassroote organisation to cultivate a right vision among people.
Can we start with this small thing. I do willing to start but I need advice. Somes willing to share?
TO BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN ANY COUNTRY REQUIRES ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
ANOTHER CASE STUDY:
SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS TOLD ME TAHT THEIR SALARIES RANGING FROM 115,000 RIELS TO 150,000 RIELS PER MONTH PLUS 3,800 RIELS PER CHILD.
THE FOLLOWING ARE BASIC NEEDS FOR HUMAN TO SURVIVE JUST TO SURVIVE
(A FAMILY OF ONE POLICEMAN WITH FAMILY OF FIVE). HIS RANK IN THE POLICE WITH CORPORAL LEVEL) EARNS $ 38/MONTH WITH THREE KIDS THE TOTAL EARNING IS $41/MONTH:
-RICE PER 1 KG COSTS 1000 RIELS WITH LESS QUALITY.
-HALF KILO OF MEAT COSTS 8600 RIELS
HALF KILO OF MUD FISH COST 4500 REILS.
-SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL COSTS 2500 RIEL A DAY (SOME MONEY KIDS HAVE TO GIVE TO TEACHERS).
-SOY SAUCE AND FISH SAUCE, SUGAR, SALT, AND OTHERS NECESSARY FOOD ITEMS COST 1500 REILS PER DAY.
PAYING RENT FOR FLAT APARTMENT COST $ 65/MONTH IN PHNOM PENH (THE CHEAP ONE)
THIS IS NOT TO MENTION: HEALTH CARE, CLOTHES, AND GASOLINE TO TRAVEL TO WORK (OLD MOTORBIKE).
hOW HIS FAMILY SURVIVE. HIS WIFE HAS TO LEAVE IN THE REALY MORNING TO SALE VEGETABLES WHILE LEAVING FOUTEEN YEAR KID TO TAKE CARE YOUNGER SIBBLING.
HE HONESTLY TOLD ME THAT COUPLE TIMES PER WEEK HE GETS COMMISSION (YOU CAN SAY BRIBERY) GIVING TO HIM AND HIS GROUP BY VENDORS AT TOUL TOUM BOUG MARKET. EACH GET APPROX $5-8/WEEK.
QUESTION OF THIS CASE STUDY: IF THIS SITUATION WERE TO BE YOURS, CAN YOU STAY CLEAN? HOW YOUR MANAGE TO SURVIVE AND NOT FALL INTO CORRUPTION WHILE YOUR BOSSES ARE DRIVING LEXUS LANDCRUISER AND LIVE IN NICE VILLA.
THEN I ASKED THE POLICEMAN, CAN YOU STOP TAKING MONEY IF THE GOVERNMENT GIVES YOU ENUOGH SALARY?
HE SAY "MAY BE" WITH SMILE. STUDY SHOWS THAT CORRUPTION STARTS WITH SMALL AND BECOME ADDICTED AS TIME GOES ON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP.
SMALL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO STOP. HUMAN ALWAYS WANTS MORE AND MORE....
We need a sword to cut throat of corrupted person. This is so-call corrrumtion law.
Corruption in Cambodia is the way of Hun Xen's goverment is ussing to controle the country! It is a systenatic install oppressive mechanic!
TO keep publick servents think that they own it all to the individual above him.
Never see any wrong doing, corruption is acceptable!
Teachers have nochoice but corrupted to survive, this will teach Cambodian kids from the year of 3 to accept corruption as a way of live! So Hun Xen family will be acceptable not a parasite of society!
All people will fall on Hun Xen goverment hand if they dare to disegree with it (HUN XEN), because every body is corrupt and can be punish any time if Hun Xen say so!
That the way PHD from Hanoi Vietname leurned if any how to destroy our pride and ability as a nation!
The fucking CPP and Vietnamese Hanoise is working throught corruption to destroy Cambodia!
May all the family of corrupters go to hell!
9:26 demonstrates it aptly. Corruption at the bottom is there because they don't make enough money to support a family. What these underpaid officers and civil servants charge extra they need to supplement their wages so they can live on it. The government simply does not collect enough taxes to pay them higher salaries. So this might rather be called 'indirect taxation'. After all, a policeman, for instance, makes only $25 - $40 a month.
The serious corruption occurs at the higher levels where government officials get bribes for concessions, public works, etc. This needs to be stamped out. But there is not one party in Cambodia able to do this, and not one leader either, certainly not Sam Rainsy, if your hopes lie with him. Power itself corrupts. Look at Transparency Int.'s complete survey. You will be amazed which nations appear in the middle field instead of at the top.
'Cambodia at presence is poor not because Cambodia is poor in potential, but poor because of the mismanagement and corruption of our leaders. Corruption has drained state treasury dried. It has costed the country $500 million dollars annually...'
The $500 million is unconfirmed, some say it's $320 million (U. S. ambassador). But to put things in perspective, the poverty of Cambodia has more causes than corruption, although it is a very significant aspect. And the treasury is not empty. Cambodia holds foreign reserves of $1.7 billion.
My beloved 12:20AM!
Forgive me for intentionally kinda disagreeing with your last statement,(The poverty of Cambodia has more causes than corruption). Therefore, may I ask you two simple questions, what is our major problem to cause the poverty in Cambodia? Does corruption is egoistically sucking every penny from the national treasury?
Not only CPP folks don't want to change the regime, Sihanouk, Lon Nol, Pol Pot were mentally feeling the same way. Ironically, if there were chang, their job and power are no longer belonging to them, like Samdech Dey DekCho Hun Sen has repeatedly mentioned," Cambodia has now a stability", but unashamedly he doesn't want to say, so it's a stability of job!
12:20AM
You are awkward!
KY
i think power is corrupted. police have power and they seemed to do as they please. i don't think it's right at all. they should be the one to uphold the law of the land, instead, they are corrupted. please complain to the interior ministry about this so it can be stopped at once.
one way (of course, there are so many ways if one is educated to know) of curbing corruption is to upgrade the standard of living for the cambodian people, i think. when people have enough to eat and left over to build a nice home or send their children to school, etc., then they will curb this corruption practices. so , in a way, corruption is fed indirectly by mediocre economy or weak economy. that is why development for cambodia is very crucial in this aspect, believe it or not; it will help cambodia to prosper like other asean countries out there. it is the truth, don't deny it!
With all kinds of living cost rising now, the economist of Cambodia should recalculate the salary for government workers.
agreed with 7:54pm. it is called cost of living adjustment, and cambodian gov't ought to make it mandatory for increase if the cost of living is also increased, this way, people won't have to struggle so hard to pay for food, and other expenses.
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