Malaysia graftbusters probe contractors amid abuse allegation / (Indonesia) Antigraft group urges KPK to investigate preemployment card program / Senior UN official calls for universal basic income to tackle growing inequality
Malaysia graftbusters probe contractors amid abuse allegation in buying of Covid-19 kits. “Several companies directly appointed by Malaysia's Health Ministry to supply Covid-19-related equipment are being probed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Sources told The Straits Times on Tuesday (May 5) that at least five contractors have been summoned by the graftbusters this week to have their statements recorded in order to facilitate the investigation involving contracts believed to be worth at least RM30 million (S$10 million).”
Nadirah H. Rodz / Strait Times : https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-graftbusters-probe-contractors-amid-abuse-allegation-in-buying-of-covid-19
(Indonesia) Antigraft group urges KPK to investigate preemployment card program. “The Indonesian Anticorruption Community (MAKI) has asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate the government’s preemployment card program, particularly the lack of transparency in its selection of private-sector partners. “The appointment of the partners was allegedly conducted without a ‘beauty contest’ [competitive applications and bidding], and it did not meet the requirements of administrative and technical qualifications because there was no previous announcement of the requirements themselves,” MAKI coordinator Boyamin Bin Saiman said in a statement.”
Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie / Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/05/antigraft-group-urges-kpk-to-investigate-preemployment-card-program.html
Senior UN official calls for universal basic income to tackle growing inequality (Interview).“The majority of countries in Asia Pacific either carry high domestic debt or high external debt, and we don't want to see a growing debt burden, because that's just going to cause more problems for generations down the line. But in most countries in this region, the tax to GDP ratio is very low, and most public money comes from regressive, indirect taxes. In other words, it is mainly the poor who are being disproportionately taxed, and this has to change.“Fiscal termites” eat into a country’s tax revenue: countries allow for tax havens and tax breaks. In addition, they offer massive fossil fuel subsidies. This is a heavy drain on public resources. On top of that, developing countries lose over a trillion dollars each year on illicit financial flows, and this is without even counting domestic corruption and inefficiencies. We have to stop this financial bleeding. Fixing any part would free up enough money to pay for universal basic income. UBI is not forever but given the social and economic hits by COVID-19, it is needed right now.”