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Anti-corruption parliamentary caucus imperative to arrest spread of corruption
View(s):For several decades now, the spread of corruption to all layers of Governance has been a worrying phenomenon. Corruption has spread like a cancer and has eaten into the vital organs of Government.
The debilitating effect of corruption has not only retarded national economic development, but has greatly contributed to the suffering of the poorest of the poor, which has made the life of the poor that much more difficult.
If corruption is minimised, State resources diverted into the pockets of the greedy, could be used for the developmental needs of the country and hence, improve people’s lives. Economic experts would probably agree that the cost of living could be greatly reduced if the incidence of corruption is minimised.
In the same way a Value Added Tax (VAT) contributes to an increase in the Cost of Living, the “Tax of Corruption” increases the cost of Goods and Services the public needs. The only difference in the two forms of “taxation” is that, the VAT goes into Government coffers, while proceeds from the “Tax of Corruption” goes into private pockets.
Ronnie de Mel, Finance Minister in the J.R. Jayewardena Government which completed the accelerated Mahaweli Diversion Scheme in the late ’70s and early ’80s, once made an interesting revelation. He claimed that 1/3 of the funds received for the Mahaweli Scheme, the largest development scheme in the country, went into private pockets.
One shudders to think what percentage of funds had been siphoned off in recent years, and at what cost to the country and the people.
Despite increased awareness and campaigns against corruption, in recent times, this phenomenon is still widespread, with no signs of abating. The only way corruption can be minimised is, firstly, to ensure that processes are in place at every level of Government that ensure transparency, and install systemic changes to ensure that, even a hint of corruption triggers an alarm which will alert the public and enable the Government to act.
Secondly, steps to ensure that strong and independent enforcement mechanisms are in place to bring offenders before the Courts for expeditious trial.
The third step would be for the leadership of political parties to ensure their nominees for elections at whatever level, are not tainted by allegations of corruption.
The fourth should be to create zero tolerance among the public, for corrupt individuals. When personalities well known for corruption are invited to School functions, which should only attract role models to inspire the younger generation, one is only further promoting corruption.
The public’s perception of corruption is extremely critical and is for its eradication or reduction, which only a culture of zero tolerance can help curb the spread of this canker. When several British MPs were accused of “cooking” their expense claims, in the infamous ‘Expenses’ scandal that rocked Britain in 2009, many of them resigned even before any wrongdoing was proved, due to the sheer force of public opinion.
Political party leaders, as well as the public, cannot evade their responsibility to contribute to cleansing public life in other fields as well. A case in point is the recent incident where the Chairman of the Lindula Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested for allegedly abducting a woman and child, among other charges.
According to media reports, the incident for which he was arrested, took place in 2017. He was given nomination by his party to contest the Local Govt (LG) Elections in 2018 and the voters elected him to the Lindula Pradeshiya, notwithstanding his alleged involvement in the incident in 2017.
There maybe several others so nominated and elected by the voters. Hardly encouraging for the future of our democracy.
The current debate or discussion about payments made to MPs by Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL), is hogging the media spotlight to the point of it becoming a media circus. The media is accosting MPs and asking the question “did you take money from PTL”, and maintaining a scorecard based on their answers.
Naturally, many MPs above board in this matter, are embarrassed by the fact that, even they have to answer this question. Fortunately for the media, the environment created by the ‘Yahapalana’ Government enables them to pose such questions, which would have resulted in drastic repercussions for them, if done during the previous Government.
Undoubtedly, the whole of Parliament has been brought to disrepute by the search for the list of 118 names to whom PTL is said to have made payments. It was very clear, right from the very start that. there could not possibly have been such a list in the annexures to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCI) Report.
It is very unlikely that the PCI would have prepared a list of 118 names and left it in the air, to merely titillate the public. The only reason it would have made such a list would be to make recommendations in respect of action to be taken against those on such a list. But the recommendations contained in the PCI Report which are all in the public domain, make no reference to such a list.
President’s Secretary Austin Fernando and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya have now confirmed what would have been obvious to any discerning observer right from the outset. An exasperated Speaker exclaimed, “How can I provide a list when there is no such list,” in response to Joint Opposition (JO) members repeatedly demanding the tabling of such a list in Parliament.
The JO has asked the Speaker to remove from COPE membership, names of those who have been identified as having made telephone calls to Arjuna Aloysious, during the previous COPE inquiry into the Bond episode. The telephone calls and the reasons for such calls have not yet been investigated but, it is best that such members be removed or, in the alternative, step down voluntarily.
For, as Dr Colvin R. de Silva once said in Parliament, “In such matters, one should not only, like Caesar’s wife, be beyond suspicion but also, be beyond the reach of suspicion”.
With regard to COPE, it is, however, best that, those served with indictments in the High Court, are excluded from membership. Serving of an indictment means the investigations have been completed and there is sufficient evidence against the accused, which, if proved after trial, can result in a conviction.
The whole episode of the alleged payments to MPs by PTL, is both good news and bad news for the country. The bad news is that corruption is still widespread, while the good news is that investigators and Government officials have been given the space to carry out their duties without fear or favour, by the ‘Yahapalanaya’ dispensation, and even Government politicians and their kith and kin are not exempt from being investigated.
A further example of this is the arrest of the son of a State minister on several charges relating to a serious traffic accident a couple of days ago. Under the previous Government this was unthinkable. For instance, no action was taken against an LG politician belonging to the ruling party, despite allegations of rape and murder involving Britisher Khurram Sheikh and his Russian girlfriend, until international pressure was brought to bear on the country. Another striking feature of the current debate on the alleged payments to MPs by PTL, is the Government’s propensity to respond to the agenda set by the Opposition, rather than charter a path for itself. Listening to the ‘holier-than-thou’ posturing of some JO worthies, who are themselves being investigated for serious offences, one would imagine that the only incidence of corruption in the country is the one relating to the Bond scam.
The Government seems to have forgotten the PRECIFAC Report to be debated in Parliament. An early discussion on the subject will help the country view the debate on corruption in its proper perspective. It behoves the Government to be much more proactive in the matter.
While the Government and the Opposition are trading allegations of corruption, the country needs a more holistic approach to the problem. It is best that Parliament forms an Anti-Corruption Caucus which can urgently draw up systems that will prevent, as well as reduce corruption at all levels of Governance.
There are many honourable members of Parliament untainted by allegations of corruption, who can respond to this urgent need, in the National Interest. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is well positioned to take the lead in such an initiative.
(javidyusuf@gmail.com )