Statement on Expert Workshop on Good Practices of United Nations-System Support to States in Preventing and Fighting Against Corruption, with a Focus on Human Rights, 11 June 2018

Thank you Chair,

Singapore has taken a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption from independence because our country’s development and success depends on keeping the country clean and corruption-free. 

Our founding leaders and successive governments institutionalised a robust, comprehensive anti-corruption framework. 

We have strong anti-corruption laws. 

Our Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), for instance, puts the burden of proof on the accused to show that he or she acquired their wealth legally.  It also provides for extra-territorial jurisdiction so that the corrupt actions of Singaporean citizens overseas are treated the same as actions committed in Singapore (regardless of whether such corrupt acts have consequences for Singapore).

Our anti-corruption agency, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), is well resourced and independent. It is empowered to investigate any person, even ministers and police officers. 

CPIB also conduct public outreach to raise public awareness and shape social norms.

We pay public servants fair and realistic wages and, in return, demand the highest standards of integrity and performance.

The public also plays an important role to maintain our social norms to eschew corruption and uphold the standards.  They readily report corrupt practices when they encounter them.

Today, Singapore is ranked sixth on the latest Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index and fifth on the UNDP’s Human Development Index.

Although we have achieved some success eradicating corruption, we are under no illusions we have completely eradicated the problem. 

We are determined to preserve the integrity, trust and reputation of our institutions painstakingly built up since our independence to maintain our national competitiveness and to protect the rights of our citizens.

So when individuals commit corruption, we make sure they are caught and severely dealt with in accordance to our laws.

We regard international cooperation as an important element of our broader anti-corruption strategy. 

We have thus collaborated with the UN and other partners to share our best practices with other countries.  For example, in May 2018 Singapore and the UNODC teamed up to conduct an anti-corruption training course focusing on Financial Investigations Techniques and International Cooperation Mechanisms for 30 anti-corruption officials and investigators from 16 Asian countries.  

Singapore and the UNODC will build on this partnership to support the efforts of our partners to attain SDG Target 16.5 on reducing corruption and bribery in all forms. 

I would like to ask the distinguished panel if they foresee any new or emerging challenges that can severely hamper efforts to combat corruption.

Thank you.