AS ONE of the state parties that signed the legally binding United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Brunei Darussalam is obliged to implement all eight chapters and 71 articles of the convention, which also includes international cooperation, technical assistance and exchange of information.

Undertaking anti-corruption measures and investigations within the private sector is also within the UNCAC convention.

In light of this, it would be interesting to find out how the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau will implement such challenges in the future.

The Sultanate is certainly in full support of this legal bond.

ACB Deputy Director Hj Abdul Raub in a speech to mark International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday stressed that Brunei, in its commitment to eradicate and free the nation from corruption, fully supports the convention’s initiative.

Meanwhile, the Sultanate was recently ranked 7th as the least corrupted country under the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2009 in the Asia-Pacific Region and ranked 2n1 after Singapore amongst the Southeast Asian nations (Asean).
It is rather impressive to note that it was the very first time for Brunei to be included in the global ranking administered by Transparency International, which is based in Berlin, Germany. The commendable rankings are a significant attainment for Brunei Darussalam in view of the ACB being relatively young in age and experience.
In the past, the ACB Deputy Director, Haji Abdul Raub stated that the high CPI ranking is not a means to be comfortable and complacent. There are still a lot of areas to be improved, and according to him, the Bureau will strive to improve its CPI standing. Hopefully, they will be amongst the top ten in the CPI in the not too distant future.
He said the high ranking perhaps attributed to the nation’s efforts in preventing corruption, for example through campaigns and roadshows including educating the youths on the dangers of corruption whilst promoting honesty and high-integrity.
He also told the Bulletin, during past interviews, that the Bureau is set to further develop its anti-corruption activities by enhancing its investigative capabilities and begin implementing anti-corruption measures and investigations within the private sectors, prompting them to continue sending personnel to gain experiences from overseas training.
However, the country’s involvement in the anticorruption drive in the international level began somewhat in 2003.

During the opening of the International Anti-Corruption Day Ceremony at the ACB Premise, Old Airport, Berakas, the ACB Deputy Director said that in October 2003, Brunei Darussalam joined other UN member countries to support the establishment of UNCAC, an event that marked the changing attitudes of the international community towards the far-reaching impact of corruption and the need to develop effective measures against it at both domestic and international levels.

This has set forth international actions against corruption from general consideration and declarative statements to legally binding agreements.

At the same time, through Resolution 58/4, December 9 became known as the International Anti-Corruption Day.

In its eight Chapters and 71 Articles, the UNCAC obliges its members to implement a wide and detailed range of anti-corruption measures affecting their laws, institutions and practices. These measures aim to promote the prevention, criminalisation and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, technical assistance and information exchange as well as mechanisms for implementation.

Brunei Darussalam ratified the Convention on December 2, 2008 and became a member of the Convention. On
September 8, 2009, there were 140 signatories and the Convention had been ratified, accepted, approved or acceded by 137 countries.

In his speech yesterday, Hj Abd Raub said signatories of UNCAC must implement the UNCAC’s anti-corruption initiatives in both the public and private sectors and to involve the society in general in the anti-corruption drive.

Hj Raub in the past said, taking the anti-corruption measure within private sector will be challenging, but it is in line with the UNCAC and the Bureau’s mission and objective.

The Bureau’s vision is to create a corruption free nation along with its mission to be the lead agency in driving that vision, and to be the champion of integrity and good governance in the public service.
Other than that, international cooperation, technical assistance and exchanges of information were also given a lot of thought by the UNCAC.

“This has made it clear that the UNCAC covers various aspects that lead to prevention and combating,” he said.

This is the third time ACB has organised the International Anti-Corruption Day on a nationwide scale in various forms.

The International Anti-Corruption Day will be held in all four districts; at Dewan Santap Pejabat Daerah Belait on December 12, at the Dewan Serbaguna Komplex Utama Bumi Putera in Temburong on December 14, and at the Dewan Serbaguna Serambangun in Tutong on December 15.

On December 10, a special live radio programme on `An Nur’ entitled “When Gift Becomes a Bribe” will be on air.

On December 11, a Friday sermon will be read in all mosque nationwide. The sermon was taken from a winner of the Friday sermon writing competition.

The Deputy Director also thanked the Language and Literature Bureau and Department of Mosques Affairs for their cooperation in making the International Anti-Corruption Day a success this year.

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