Philippines More Corrupt Than Indonesia, Poll Says (Update1)

By Katherine Espina

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines is perceived as Asia's most corrupt economy, according to a poll by Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd., with Indonesia improving its standing after being ranked worst for five years in a row.

Thailand and Indonesia were seen as the second most corrupt nations, according to the Hong Kong-based company's survey of 1,476 expatriates, which was released to the media today. Singapore is seen as the least corrupt of the 13 economies studied, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.

``The Philippines has the distinction of being perceived in the worst light this year,'' PERC said in the statement. ``It is bad and has been bad all along. People are just growing tired of the inaction and insincerity of leading officials when they promise to fight corruption.''

The findings are a setback for Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, who defeated two impeachment attempts after allegations she cheated in the 2004 election. She has denied the allegations.

``The political analysis, they work on old data, they don't work on up-to-date data,'' Arroyo told reporters in Manila today in response to the survey findings.

Most of Asia is struggling to fight corruption that's been a constraint to business in the region. The Philippines, whose corruption score posted the steepest rise, has been getting the least amount of foreign direct investments and lower foreign capital flows to its stock market compared with Indonesia and Thailand, PERC said.

Improvement

The Philippines got a score of 9.40 from 7.80 last year in the poll, which has a grading system of zero as the best possible score, and 10 as the worst.

To be sure, net foreign direct investments to the country rose 27 percent last year to $2.35 billion, according to data from the Philippine central bank. ``If we are to talk about government programs on anti-corruption, we've done a lot,'' Constancia de Guzman, chairman of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, told reporters in Manila. ``There is an improvement and we have a successful drive against corruption.''

Thailand, which has a junta-backed government after last September's coup, is probably the country where corruption problems are most visible, PERC said.

Indonesia

Indonesia, deemed Asia's most corrupt country since 2002, improved its score to 8.03, the same as Thailand. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's campaign against corruption has yielded positive results, though it's being undermined by local- level officials, government bureaucrats and senior politicians, the report said.

Vietnam is the fourth most corrupt as the government is seen to take a selective approach to fighting corruption, the survey said. It scored 7.54 from last year's 7.91. Vietnam was ranked the most corrupt economy in 2001.

``As in China, the biggest problem in Vietnam lies with state-owned companies and with people trying to use their positions to plunder state assets,'' the survey said.

China, the world's fastest growing-major economy, is the seventh most corrupt. The country's score improved to 6.29 from last year's 7.58 as tight media censorship probably helped, the report said.

India is the fifth most corrupt, followed by South Korea, PERC said, adding the Indian government must hasten reforms. India's score improved to 6.67 from 6.76 last year.

Malaysia is in the eighth place. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has permitted a more open discussion of the problem of graft, though he has yet to deliver on his campaign promise to cut corruption, PERC said.

Singapore, the least corrupt among the 13 economies for the 10th straight year, is increasingly becoming vulnerable to corruption in other countries as state-linked companies invest overseas, the report said.

The sale of Shin Corp. by investors, including the family of deposed Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, to Singapore's state- owned company Temasek Holdings Pte., angered Thais because the family didn't pay tax on the proceeds. Shin Corp., which was sold last year, owns the biggest Thai mobile-phone company.


Presiden Belum Puas Kendati Posisi Indonesia pada Survey PERC Membaik

Jakarta-RoL-- Hasil survei lembaga Konsultan Risiko Politik dan Ekonomi (PERC) yang menyebutkan bahwa upaya Indonesia memberantas korupsi meningkat tidak serta merta membuat puas Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono."(Ada peningkatan) tetapi tentu Presiden belum puas.

Masyarakat pasti juga belum puas," kata Jurubicara Kepresidenan Andi Mallarangeng di Jakarta, Jumat. Menurut Andi, peningkatan kinerja pemberantasan korupsi di Indonesia adalah hal yang menggembirakan namun tentu saja semua pihak harus terus bekerja keras untuk melanjutkan upaya pemberantasan korupsi.

"Kita bekerja terus, tidak ada kata tebang pilih Semua yang melakukan korupsi, ya harus ditindak. Program-program pemberantasan korupsi yang telah ditetapkan dilanjutkan," katanya.Hasil survei PERC yang dilansir media massa Selasa lalu (13/3) menunjukkan Filipina sebagai negara terkorup di Asia. Sebaliknya, Singapura dan Hongkong adalah negara yang "bersih" dari korupsi.

Dalam rangkuman hasil surveinya dengan responden para pelaku usaha asing itu, lembaga yang bermarkas di Hongkong itu menyebutkan, ada peningkatan upaya pemberantasan korupsi di China, Indonesia, dan Vietnam. Kesimpulan hasil survei PERC itu didapat setelah menanyai sekitar 1.500 eksekutif bisnis asing di 13 negara di kawasan Asia Tenggara pada Januari dan Februari lalu.

Dengan sistem penggolongan dan nilai 0 sebagai nilai terbaik dan 10 sebagai nilai terburuk, Filipina mendapat nilai 9,40. Padahal, tahun lalu Filipina memperoleh nilai 7,80. Posisi Filipina saat ini pernah diisi Indonesia tahun 2006. Pada tahun lalu, Indonesia adalah negara paling korup di Asia. Setelah Filipina, urutan kedua diisi Thailand dan Indonesia yang sama-sama meraih nilai 8,03.

Terkait dengan korupsi di Indonesia, PERC menyatakan kampanye Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono untuk memberantas korupsi telah "membuahkan hasil positif meski sebenarnya sikap Yudhoyono itu jelas melawan arus". Kepada kantor berita asing AFP, juru bicara untuk Komite Anti-Korupsi Nasional Indonesia, Johan SP Budi, mengatakan survei itu "menunjukkan keseriusan pemerintah untuk memperbaiki citra dan menumpas korupsi".

Masalah Administrasi

Pada kesempatan itu, Jubir Presiden,Andi Mallarangeng, juga mengungkapkan bahwa setiap Jumat Presiden dijadwalkan melakukan kegiatan-kegiatan yang bersifat administratif.

"Salah satu tugas Presiden adalah memeriksa dokumen, memberikan disposisinya, menandatangani bermacam-macam surat, termasuk surat-surat promosi atau pensiun, baik sipil atau TNI. Oleh karena itu disarankan hari Jumat khusus untuk staf dan kegiatan yang bersifat administratif," katanya.

Namun, semua itu tidak menghalangi Kepala Negara untuk melakukan hal lain, seperti pertemuan atau tugas khusus yang harus dijalankan. "Tergantung situasi, termasuk juga kalau tugas ke luar kota," katanya. Menurut Andi, dalam menjalankan kegiatan administratif, Presiden juga tidak harus selalu berada di Cikeas.

I think China is worst in Asia. Why are the finding always discrimination other countries other than China. When we had the economic crisis....everyone blame our nepotism, cronysm, corruption and what not....but did they ever mention that the situation is even worst in China?

Nobody dare to say anything....cuz everyone is pouring all their money in China.

im actually afraid because the Philippine economy is growing rapidly and this might give more money to the corrupt.

good job indonesia, but i juz dont get it why we have to measure a country's corruption?

it is vital for any foreign investors wanting to invest in another countries. Knowing how a business can be done, how to approach the people, how to incorporate all cost concerned are of grave importance. I personally dont take this "extra" cost lightly as it can turn out to be a major cost which could influence decision making whether to invest or not

I think the report was brought about by the image of Gloria. All the scandals and the upcoming elections. But then I'm curious on what are their indicators/guidelines in ranking who's the most corrupt.

PERC Ltd. based in Hongkong, isn't it?

It is sad to know Southeast Asian countries being among the most corrupted countries. Look at East Asia, they are doing very well.

I think east asian countries are just as corrupt as SEAsian countries. The only difference is that Those on N Asia bully the poorer countries while in SEA, it's an internal problem. Look at japan, they're making the Philippines their "smokey mountain" for their toxic waste. Then the Japanese won't apologize for their brutality during the WW2.... they said there's nothing to apologize. They won't even correct their history books.

Sad sad

PERC? Never heard of them.

Surveys made by Transparency International have more credibility IMO.

The Philippines as the MOST corrupt Asian country? I don't think so.

Corruption Perception Index Table from Transparency International.

http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_f...06__1/cpi_table

From an article on the net:

Well, you have to see the size of the country as well .. I mean, look at South Korea and Japan and Singapore! The size of their island are way smaller than China or Indonesia .. it'll take more work for the government to fix the corrupted land ...