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October 05, 2006
Easy Payment Scheme
Many Malaysian companies have expanded or are looking overseas to grow their business.
It's a good thing, as our domestic market is relatively small, and when local companies go global, the country benefits tremendously.
But it seems that when our companies venture abroad, they not only bring along their goods and services, they also have a very bad habit -- no doubt nurtured at home over the years -- in tow.
Transparency International has just released its Bribe Payers Index 2006, which "looks at the propensity of companies from 30 leading exporting countries to bribe abroad."
The index is based on:
... the responses of 11,232 business executives from companies in 125 countries to two questions about the business practices of foreign firms operating in their country, as part of the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey 2006.To assess the international supply-side of bribery, executives are asked about the propensity of foreign firms that do the most business in their country to pay bribes or to make undocumented extra payments. The survey is anonymous.
In the index, a score of 10 indicates a perception of no corruption, while zero means corruption is seen as rampant.
Switzerland came out tops with a score of 7.81. India was ranked the worst (30th) with a score of 4.62.
How did we do?
Malaysia is 25th -- sixth from the bottom -- with a score of 5.59. The countries that are worse than us, after India, are China, Russia, Turkey, and Taiwan.
Download the full report (in PDF format) and read it yourself.
Posted by aisehman at October 5, 2006 11:05 PM
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Comments
We start from the phrase "tuan, boleh selesai?" and we grow from there. If to say we are among the least corrupted nations would have made the Bribe Index 2006 a joke. We are what we are and we can't deny that. Unless we admit we are a spade and empower the ACA to answer to the parliament, we are not going to be any better.
Posted by: Quest at October 6, 2006 03:10 PM
Bribe Payers Index 2006 must have mistaken our generousity for corruption. We Malaysians like to 'help' other parties to cari makan also!
Posted by: bnaipal at October 6, 2006 03:39 PM
Aisehman,
Good to come to your site! Hope to read more of your posts over at YB LKS's blog!
Have a nice a day and keep it up.
Posted by: TanjungPetir at October 6, 2006 06:11 PM
OK what....25th position. As long we not last is ok what :))
Posted by: village_ahpiau at October 7, 2006 12:48 AM
This is hardly surprising - most of our businessmen resort to this tactic. It has been ingrained in them that it has become a way of life, even a culture.
Most people think that the beneficiaries are the takers. Think again - if you give a million to get a gambling licence, then make a few billion form your venture, who in the end becomes filthy?
Similarly a developer will happily suap a couple of million to alienate a piece of juicy govt land, and the approving authority thinks he is so smart and laugh. The developer of course will go on to make a few hundred million... so who do you think laugh louder all the way to the bank?
I am sure the survey is not just talking about the few ringgit to the policemen, but bigger stuff such as these.
In corruption the giver is just as guilty as the taker. We sure have a lot of guilty people around. And they bring this culture over to wherever they conduct their business.
Posted by: idris at October 7, 2006 11:03 AM
I am surprised Australia still manages to be at the top few when it is now facing an enquiry for a multimillion dollar bribe.
The money was given to saddam hussein by the Australian Wheat Board (AWB)- a glc, through a small transport company Alia, in exchange for wheat orders.
Posted by: idris at October 7, 2006 01:55 PM
Easy Payment Scheme! This could be Malaysia's largest export for years to come. Soon the next product with greater potential is how to Win the Election - the UMNO Way.
Posted by: ou at October 7, 2006 07:25 PM
we will never be placed last becoz china will always be last. but why cant better than singapore?
Posted by: panjang at October 8, 2006 05:10 PM
Wooo Wee! Takes two hands to clap lah! Because, for example, the gaming licence, you don't pay, you don't get, and then others will pay
Posted by: susmaryosep at October 8, 2006 11:32 PM
geez 25th!...the Anti-Rasuah campaign doesnt seem to be working!
Posted by: tihtahpah at October 9, 2006 02:43 PM
Hmmm, I would have thought that we'd do worse. But it seems that Taiwan in worse!
Then again the basket of countries is also interesting with only Sg and Msia the only countries from SEAsia.
Having the index done for SEAsia and Asia overall would give a nice indicator on how we are like on corruption (comparing it to some developed nations of course) on this side of the world.
Posted by: Sharizal Shaarani at October 10, 2006 11:49 AM
Although I would agree with the result, where Malaysia is concerned, it must be said that the culture within the countries in which Malaysian firms have pumped money into should also be partially held responsible.
I mean, the secretaries didn't just find their boss's anatomy blending with theirs by accident no?
cheers
Posted by: oster at October 11, 2006 05:15 AM