How big a problem is graft in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia or Thailand?
The history of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand could be traced far before this modern era. In search of this historical facts in many aspects on social life, cultural and other of ancient heritages of the two countries would be easy to find in both countries. Throughout the history of the two countries, the peoples and cultures of both countries have been interacting with each other since Sriwijaya and Majapahit era. Through exchange civilization, the two peoples have cherised cultural heritage, religion, architecture or even literature that share the root of similar civilization. No doubt, the cultures between two countries, though each distinctive and unique, were nursed in a common cradle. The evidence of the long, unbroken cultural ties between two countries are all around from Borobudur to Ramayana dances and to Ayam Bangkok. It also believes that several fruit plants which are now growing in Thailand were brought from Indonesia during the visit of the Thai mona
Deputy Premier Abdullah Badawi’s call for a corruption-free Malaysia has sparked a debate into the extent of graft in the country. Abdullah said on Monday that he was concerned over Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) statistics that showed that more than half the 1,352 people arrested for graft been 1998 and 2002 were civil servants. “Corruption is a terrible disease that can hurt our competitiveness and image because it brings about a loss of public confidence in the civil service,” said Abdullah, due to succeed Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in October. The deputy premier said a clean image was vital so that the public, the business community and foreign investors would have a positive perception of the civil service. Malaysia ranked 33rd in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions index last year. Although this was a slight improvement from the 36th place in 2001, it was well below the 23rd position achieved in 1995. Abdullah said what was needed was a change in the mindset an
