11 Dec

DUE to the action taken against corrupt civil servants, the public is increasingly more aware of the dangers of corruption. 

Thanks to the efforts, our country topped in 17 countries in Asia in the list of achievements in fighting corruption in Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer Asia 2020.

From bribes to the use of personal connections, from vote-buying to extortion, corruption takes many forms in Asia, said Transparency International in its report. 

With strong political will, the Union Government has committed to combating money laundering and countering financing of terrorism full-swing.

To defeat the corruption in our country, we must close the loopholes and make clear the ambiguous regulations. This task must be included in the National-level Anti-Corruption Strategy. Only, then can we deter corruption and hold accountable officials who breach the public’s trust and impede efforts to effectively prosecute bribery.

The consequences from corruption and bribery can threaten the millennium developments goals of the United Nations and can cause violations of human rights and armed conflicts.
Besides, corruption and bribery reduce income and government revenues; they increase costs, thereby undermining fair competition; distort policy, and allow priorities to be determined by personal interests; breed disloyalty in public institutions; divert resources from where they are needed the most; reduce productivity, thereby demotivating those who receive unfair rewards; and, destroy cultures at all levels. 

Generally, we understand that the root causes of a crime include poverty and lack of knowledge. However, we should all note that the involvement of corrupt governmental employees has made the horrendous crimes such as human trafficking and transnational crime worse.

The government has enforced strict rules for the authorities, and to ensure that those who have power do not misuse their positions and rights for their own interests. The government has taken a balanced approach in the fight against corruption, and is also trying to take serious action against those found committing malpractices. 

Protecting the integrity of governance mechanisms is critical to ensuring that corruption doesn’t undermine democracy. 

Hence, those who have the power or authority need to be free of corruption in order to earn the respect and trust of the people. They are urged to follow the rules and regulations and ensure the safety of the whole of society, in accordance with the law.