The Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Ba-kar, in his speech at the opening of the 11th annual South East Asia Parties Against Corruption (SEA-PAC) meeting yesterday.
BRUNEI has taken remarkable strides in combating the menace of corruption by enacting new legislation and tightening enforcement, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar said.
“Having effective laws provides the basis in the fight against corruption. The laws governing corruption offences must be reviewed periodically to ensure it is applicable and relevant. The powers of enforcement must be well provisioned to ensure effective investigation and prosecution,” he said in his speech at the opening of the 11th annual South East Asia Parties Against Corruption (SEA-PAC) meeting yesterday.
“Corruption is a worldwide problem that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. It is a serious crime that can infect, thus impact negatively on businesses, markets, economic growth and as a result lead to the malfunctioning of state institutions,” he said, officiating the three-day meeting at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.
“According to the World Bank Group Report entitled ‘The Cost of Corruption’, in 2013, it was estimated that the amount of bribes paid in developing and developed countries totalled US$1 trillion, or three per cent of the global GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This huge amount of corrupt money takes many forms, not only in the private sector but also those received by members of the public sector.”
The deputy minister said no distinction should be made between petty or grand corruption.
“The fight against corruption applies across the board. Hence, having effective laws and an enforcement system complemented with education is crucial in combating and preventing this crime,” he added.
“The Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has taken significant strides in tackling the problem of corruption. 1981 saw the enactment of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap 131), and the following year saw the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, in February 1982.
“His Majesty’s firm position against corruption was reiterated in the recent titah during His Majesty’s visit to the Royal Brunei Police Force where the monarch stressed on ‘the importance of saving the nation and country from the evil hands of corruption and to fight it with all our might. Corruption is a disease and it is an agent of destruction,” Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan recalled.
“An amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act to criminalise abuse of power and misconduct in the public office under the Act was just recently introduced by His Majesty’s Government, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan said, adding that the new laws include criminalisation of actions such as using state funds for personal use, giving favourable treatment to individuals and deliberate negligence in executing duties as a public officer.
The offence carries a fine of B$30,000, or imprisonment for a term that may extend to seven years.
“The fight against corruption requires a holistic approach. Community engagement and participation through education to create awareness on the risk and consequences of corruption must be taken as an essential opportunity in building a society that opposes corruption.”
The seminar is expected to provide an insight into the need for realising the importance of promoting integrity through education as one of the strategies in the prevention of corruption, the deputy minister said. “It is hoped that all participants in this seminar would bene?t from the insightful talks and together make continuous and concerted efforts in formulating and implementing development programmes to promote integrity and corporate governance thus helping to ensure continuous social stability, robust economic growth and prosperity for our beloved country, Brunei Darussalam.”
Expanding efforts in preventing corruption through education as a continuous and comprehensive strategy to bring effective awareness to the younger generation is also very important, he added.
“Cooperation and commitment from all organisations and institutions – both the public and private sector – the youth and the civil society as a whole are essential in realising a future with zero tolerance against corruption,” the deputy minister concluded.
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