Corruption in Southeast Asia Said to Threaten Economic Integration

  • by Sean Buchanan (rome)
  • Inter Press Service

ROME, Apr 24 (IPS) - Rampant corruption across Southeast Asia threatens to derail plans for greater economic integration, according to Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption.

In a report titled ASEAN Integrity Community: A Vision for Transparent and Accountable Integration, released Apr. 24, the organisation calls on the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to create a regional body that integrates anti-corruption principles into the framework of a proposed regional economic community.

If not, it says, hopes for shared prosperity, upward mobility and entrepreneurship will not be fulfilled.

"Southeast Asia is home to some of the richest, fastest-growing economies, as well as some of the planet's poorest people. Battling corruption is an integral part to sustainable growth and reducing income inequality," said Natalia Soebagjo, Chair of Transparency International Indonesia.

"Regional cooperation coupled with civil society and business community involvement in the development of an ASEAN Integrity Community are essential elements to ensure an economic community has a positive impact on the daily lives of Southeast Asians," Soebagjo said.

According to the report, corruption continues to plague most of the 10 ASEAN member countries. Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2014 shows that the nine of them scored an average of 38 out of 100 (where 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt).

Furthermore, almost 50 percent of people in ASEAN countries surveyed believe corruption has increased, while only one-third say that their government's efforts to fight corruption have been effective, according to the 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, a public opinion survey by Transparency International.

Given the grand scale of corruption in the region, argues the report, the proposed ASEAN Integrity Community is an absolute necessity. Through this community, ASEAN can establish effective anti-corruption policies, legislation and strategies, achieve strong and effective anti-corruption institutions, enhance mutual collaboration to fight corruption, and bring about meaningful engagement with civil society and the business sector in the region.

"ASEAN governments should take the lead in declaring and defining their vision of the ASEAN Integrity Community," said Srirak Plipat, Transparency International Regional Director for Asia Pacific. "The business community and civil society should stand ready to support them to realise the joint ASEAN Integrity Community vision."

The governments of Malaysia and Myanmar are reported as having already shown support for the creation of an Integrated Community.

"A series of ministerial meetings must be created to set priorities and carry out action plans, which are severely needed due to delays in the past decade," said Plipat. "Platforms for business and civil society must be created so that they can contribute to one coherent and strategic framework of the ASEAN Integrity Community, as opposed to a random and organic approach as in the past."

Edited by Phil Harris    

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