AP-INTACT

Will COVID-19 be the shot in the arm that improves pharmaceutical pricing transparency? (Blog).  “What is clear is that transparency is essential to providing confidence that public funds are used effectively and in the public interest, particularly during times of crisis when huge sums of money are being spent and contracts are being allocated at speed. This could not be more important when it comes to government contracts with vaccine manufacturers.” Natalie Rhodes/Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/will-covid-19-be-the-shot-in-the-arm-that-improves-pharmaceutical-pricing-transparency    China executes former asset management chief for corruption.  “China has executed [Lai Xiaomin] the former head of one of its biggest asset management companies who was convicted of corruption, a punishment that has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights experts…Lai was found guilty of taking bribe...

FIJI Fiji Anti-Corruption Course Garners Regional Interest.  The anti-corruption course aims to get participants to be Integrity Champions supporting FICAC and other Pacific regional anti-corruption agencies in the fight against corruption. https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/01/26/fiji-anti-corruption-course-garners-regional-interest/ Court extends bail for MPs.  The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) will make an application to have the matter involving six SODELPA parliamentarians and a former government member of Parliament to be heard before the High Court in Suva. https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/01/26/fiji-anti-corruption-course-garners-regional-interest/ Landowner appears in court for dishonesty.  A landowner appeared before the Nausori Magistrates Court charged by FICAC with two counts of general dishonesty obtaining a gain. https://www.fijitimes.com/landowner-appears-in-court-for-dishonesty/ Funds from illicit drug activiti...

CPI 2020: Asia Pacific.  Check out the link below for the Asia-Pacific regional analysis of the new Corruption Perception Index 2020. "With an average score of 45, the Asia Pacific region struggles to combat corruption and tackle the profound health and economic impact of COVID-19." Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2020-asia-pacific   Although corruption is endemic, there is still hope (Interview).   "[Francesco Checchi, UNODC Anti-Corruption Adviser] talks about the effectiveness of legal frameworks that have been instituted to arrest corruption, and the ways and means adopted to mitigate the effects of this menace. [He] also shares his insights on whether ASEAN countries can launch a collective offensive against corruption." Francesco Checchi (interviewed)/Unravel: https://unravel.ink/although-corruption-is-endemic-there-is-still-hope/     Goldman Sachs slashes David Solomon's pay over 1MDB scandal...

    From: Kamolwan Panyasevanamit Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 8:59 AM To: 'ap.intact.network.global@blogger.com' <ap.intact.network.global@blogger.com>; 'ap.intact.network.global@blogger.com' <ap.intact.network.global@blogger.com> Subject: COVID-19 corruption interview / Responsible business conduct in procurement / Thailand anti-corruption communications research   Continuing corruption: Profiteering amid the pandemic (Interview).  “We have warned several countries that emergency packages have been adopted and implemented without necessary oversight procedures and mechanisms. This will increase the risks of misuse, fraud and corruption in the implementation of these packages.” Francesco Checchi (interviewed)/Unravel: https://unravel.ink/continuing-corruption-profiteering-amid-the-pandemic/     Integrating Responsible Business Conduct in Public Procurement (Report).  “This rep...

Open Contracting Lift program (Capacity building and funding opportunity).  This impact accelerator program to help teams of bold procurement reformers around the world to go further with their ideas and deliver change will offer extensive, tailored support from leading experts and peers to deliver better goods, works, and services, and expand economic opportunity for everyone through new or better contracting strategies. Teams will be eligible for up to $30,000 worth of direct support depending on team needs and progress, as well as 200 hours of technical assistance and support from Open Contracting Partnership. Application deadline : Friday 12 March 2021 Open Contracting Partnership: https://lift.open-contracting.org/     Integrity and Transparency Assessment.  “Through a collaboration between Office of the [Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission] and the Faculty of Economics at Chulalongkorn University, [Integrity and Transparency Assessme...

A Lesson in Democracy? The Bitter Irony of Malaysia’s Failed Anticorruption Coalition (Blog).  “Autocratic systems may contribute to entrenched corruption, but after the transition to democracy, corrupt elites often remain entrenched precisely because they know how to manipulate voters and democratic processes…If a reform-oriented Prime Minister can be so readily thwarted by political challengers in Parliament, and a united electorate can so quickly splinter, then we must ask ourselves some hard questions about whether democratic ideals may be too easily exploited in a deeply corrupt system.” Jenny Kline/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/01/22/a-lesson-in-democracy-the-bitter-irony-of-malaysias-failed-anticorruption-coalition/     Corruption comes in many ‘grades’, says Annamalai in book.   “The book (Stepping Beyond Khaki – Revelations of Real-Life Singham), with...

Asia's COVID recovery: Vietnam's breakout moment.  “By the first half of 2020, Vietnam had fast-forwarded the timelines of more than a dozen massive projects…Other legacies may not be financial. In fending off the coronavirus, Vietnam was transparent almost to a fault, according to observers who hope this approach will prevail in a country better known for the opacity of party reshuffles and land deals.” Lien Hoang/Nikkei Asia: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/Asia-s-COVID-recovery-Vietnam-s-breakout-moment     How Pakistan lost $6 billion on a gold mine.  “Pakistan’s US and France based real estate assets are at risk of confiscation as a United Kingdom court moves to enforce an arbitration tribunal decree that fined it US$5.9 billion for retracting a 28-year old gold exploration contract with foreign mining companies…the project hit a snag…when the Balochistan mining authority revoked TCC...