Indonesia,Thailand: Asia's most corrupt
Thursday April 9, 2009
Bangkok Post
SINGAPORE / Indonesia and Thailand are perceived as Asia's most corrupt economies, with last year's cellar-dweller the Philippines making a marked improvement, an annual survey of foreign business executives shows.
Singapore and Hong Kong retained their rankings as the region's least corrupt economies, although there are concerns about private-sector fraud, according to the survey by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (Perc).
Despite the negative perception of Indonesia, Perc noted ``there has been a real headway in fighting the problem'' under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking re-election in July's presidential polls.
``The absolute scores show corruption in the public and private sectors is still very high,'' Perc said.
``But our latest survey shows that residents in Indonesia are more favourably impressed with the determined way the KPK (anti-corruption commission) has been fighting corruption than any of the other countries graded poorly for corruption.''
It said the major question its respondents are asking in Indonesia is whether the anti-corruption efforts can be sustained.
The March results are based on more than 1,700 responses from 14 Asian economies plus Australia and the United States, which were included for comparison purposes. In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, Indonesia got 8.32.
Thailand was seen as the second most corrupt country with a grade of 7.63, but Perc said foreign investors were more concerned about political stability.
``Very few expatriate executives find that corruption makes the country a less attractive place to live and do business,'' it said.
Cambodia was third-worst at 7.25, followed by India with 7.21 and Vietnam with 7.11.
A grade above 7.0 indicates that a ``serious'' corruption problem exists, Perc said. A score between 4.0 and 7.0 indicates a ``moderate'' level of corruption.
Perceived as Asia's most corrupt country in the 2008 survey, the Philippines had a score of 7.0 to rank sixth from the bottom this year.
The Philippine customs and tax agencies, police and politicians have the meanest reputation for corruption in the country, the consultancy said.
But while ``there is very little confidence in the government's seriousness about fighting the problem,'' Perc also said that ``the actual level of corruption is not as bad as it is often portrayed''.
Singapore again topped the survey as Asia's least corrupt country with a score of 1.07, followed by Hong Kong with 1.89.
Australia scored 2.40 to rank in third place followed by the United States with a score of 2.89.
The recession's impact on regional financial centres Singapore and Hong Kong would increase public-sector corruption there, Perc said.
Singapore and Hong Kong retained their rankings as the region's least corrupt economies, although there are concerns about private-sector fraud, according to the survey by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (Perc).
Despite the negative perception of Indonesia, Perc noted ``there has been a real headway in fighting the problem'' under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking re-election in July's presidential polls.
``The absolute scores show corruption in the public and private sectors is still very high,'' Perc said.
``But our latest survey shows that residents in Indonesia are more favourably impressed with the determined way the KPK (anti-corruption commission) has been fighting corruption than any of the other countries graded poorly for corruption.''
It said the major question its respondents are asking in Indonesia is whether the anti-corruption efforts can be sustained.
The March results are based on more than 1,700 responses from 14 Asian economies plus Australia and the United States, which were included for comparison purposes. In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, Indonesia got 8.32.
Thailand was seen as the second most corrupt country with a grade of 7.63, but Perc said foreign investors were more concerned about political stability.
``Very few expatriate executives find that corruption makes the country a less attractive place to live and do business,'' it said.
Cambodia was third-worst at 7.25, followed by India with 7.21 and Vietnam with 7.11.
A grade above 7.0 indicates that a ``serious'' corruption problem exists, Perc said. A score between 4.0 and 7.0 indicates a ``moderate'' level of corruption.
Perceived as Asia's most corrupt country in the 2008 survey, the Philippines had a score of 7.0 to rank sixth from the bottom this year.
The Philippine customs and tax agencies, police and politicians have the meanest reputation for corruption in the country, the consultancy said.
But while ``there is very little confidence in the government's seriousness about fighting the problem,'' Perc also said that ``the actual level of corruption is not as bad as it is often portrayed''.
Singapore again topped the survey as Asia's least corrupt country with a score of 1.07, followed by Hong Kong with 1.89.
Australia scored 2.40 to rank in third place followed by the United States with a score of 2.89.
The recession's impact on regional financial centres Singapore and Hong Kong would increase public-sector corruption there, Perc said.
10 comments:
ASIAN GANGS. In facts Vietnam is worse than this report. million poor Vietnamese were evicted from their own homes and some went on missing without a trace. A Viet-American woman cried for help to free her husband (MD) who went to Vietnam to help the poor, but he was locked in prison. The thug in Vietnam replied to her pledge and said "You should come down and follow the law how you can help to free your husband. Bring money along" She was almost go there but the US Embassy told her not to go. Until today her husband is still in jail may be dead.
In India, don't visit and try to be good looking or be nice. Those viallagers will slice your body and rob every penny you have. You have to go with a group not alone.
It's very hard to believe that Cambodia is better than Thailand and Indonasia. If the scores are accuarate, I'm very surprised.
This is actually very good news for Cambodia. Before, a few years back, Cambodia was even on the list. Now Cambodia is No. 3 which is better than Indonesia and Thailand. Great Job Cambodia. Not only that, other nations in Asia is not mentioned at all such as Laos, Myanmar,etc..... This implies that Cambodia is more opened to the rest of the world and as a result included in part of this survey. Congradulations to Cambodia!
^Correction: I meant Cambodia wasn't on the list.....
Thais are too corrupt this day. Million poor people in Eastern and Northern parts some sell their daughters. You have to come and see for yourself.
Burma & Laos are dead nations.
^Exactly, Cambodia use to be a dead nation, but now it's not! :)
Hey that what I tell you guys for a long time ago : we are better than the thais.
i think it's fair to show report like this so people wouldn't be so biased against only cambodia. it shows that cambodia is not alone in this much hated issue called corruption. that said, it doesn't mean that cambodia should tolerate this kind of unfair practice. god bless cambodia.
Australia the worst Corruption in the world,Australian Embassy office in Cambodia big Corruption each application must talk about money with Cambodian cruel staffs first because the Australian cruel staffs not speak Cambodian but the cruel Australian staffs using the cruel Cambodian staffs to knock the application door or make callto the application before lodge the application form to apply to live in Australia, this Corruption if the Australian cruel staffs not involve the bribe the Australian Visa not easy grant or approve as Australian Visa can be grant by the cruel Austalian staffs only, and Australian Police officer also receive bribe and Australian driver & Truck Licence can using money to buy or to get it and now most department in Australia big Corrution and I am believing that one days Australia become second United State Of America September 11 2001 & Second Cambodia, from Chung Hak Cambodian Victim mostly following the Australian Policy & Laws better than the Australian born and also Cambodian Victim from 1975 to 1979 during the Pol Pot Khmer Rough regime under A Yuonese/Vietnamese Behind The Killing Field Melbourne Australia.
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