Corruption hampers development. It robs the treasury of untold millions of rupees and, if left unchecked, it can paralyse the whole system. Some cynics even say that nothing will work without a bit of grease on the wheels. Bribery is corrosive, diverting revenues from the treasury to the pockets of bureaucrats until a government is so strapped for cash that it can’t fund the infrastructure it needs to encourage investment.

The universal language of corruption is graft, bribery and pay-offs; backsheesh in Egypt, dash in Kenya, mordida in Mexico, lamone dite in Mauritius – corruption is everywhere. It can take different forms ranging from hard cash to air tickets or free stay in five-star hotels. Unbridled funding of political parties is said to be the root of corruption. It can have horrific consequences. Thailand is a classic example: prostitution is supposedly illegal; yet, most brothels, massage parlours and go-go bars are run and controlled by cops. Police colonels build palatial houses in the suburbs of Bangkok with money from prostitution.

In some African countries racked by civil war and poverty, ministers own several Mercedes-Benz cars and have fabulous accounts in Swiss banks. Policy makers in certain countries over-invoice scams involving commodity experts. They run for juicy contracts to get kickbacks. They started indulging in politics as impecunious citizens but ended as millionaires after their mandate. Who does not remember the colonial days in Mauritius when Chinese shopkeepers were bullied by unscrupulous police officers who could take anything on the shelves they wanted without footing the bill? Customs officers coerced passengers to donate their gift-packets to them. Rectors abusing their authority obtained bungalows for a week-end for their family. Civil servants accumulated fabulous wealth and wielded absolute power. Fortunately, these days are no more.

The fight against corruption has borne its fruits. The situation is much better but still there is a long way to go. In parts of the world that have known nothing but poverty and dictatorship, it is difficult to stamp out corruption. People involved in economic development are fed up with seeing aid projects hijacked by graft. The scale of graft is so great that it can destabilise a regime. Without strong political will and determined action, the worm of corruption may yet poison the apple. The Icac of Hong Kong, set up in 1974, is a glaring example of success in eradicating corruption.

Countries need to pay civil servants and ministers a decent wage as in Singapore to encourage whistle-blowers in the press and the judiciary and to encourage a general sense of civic virtue. A change of heart is important as behind every corrupt person there lurks a corrupter.

Philip Li Ching Hum</B>