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SINGAPORE remains the least corrupt of 16 major Asia-Pacific investment destinations in a just-released business survey. It topped the annual poll by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) with a score of 1.42, followed by Australia in second place with 2.28 and Hong Kong third with 2.67 - down one place from a year ago.
Indonesia remains the most corrupt country in Southeast Asia and graft is getting even worse at all levels, the poll of businessmen showed, dealing a blow to the Bambang Yudhoyono's drive to fight the scourge. The news comes as Dr Yudhoyono is under mounting pressure with his vice president and finance minister facing a criminal probe into their role in the controversial bailout of a troubled bank.
The annual PERC poll put Southeast Asia's biggest economy last in a table of regional economies with a score of 9.27 out of the worst possible 10. Indonesia also came last in 2009, but with a marginally better score of 8.32.
Cambodia was ranked the second most corrupt regional nation with a grade of 9.10, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Zero means the country or territory is seen to suffer the least corruption among politicians and civil servants, PERC said in the report.
The Hong Kong-based consultancy said Indonesian lawmakers' call for a criminal probe into the Yudhoyono government's bailout of Bank Century in 2008 reflected attempts by a corrupt establishment to maintain the status quo. 'Corruption has become a charge being used by corrupt people to protect themselves and to stifle reform,' PERC said. 'The whole fight against corruption is in danger of being corrupted,' it said.
The United States - included for comparison purposes - placed fourth with a score of 3.42, followed by Japan (3.49), Macau (4.96), South Korea (5.98), Taiwan (6.28), Malaysia (6.47) and China (6.52). PERC's poll was conducted from December to February, and involved 2,147 mid-level and senior Asian and expatriate business executives working in the 16 economies.
Indonesia remains the most corrupt country in Southeast Asia and graft is getting even worse at all levels, the poll of businessmen showed, dealing a blow to the Bambang Yudhoyono's drive to fight the scourge. The news comes as Dr Yudhoyono is under mounting pressure with his vice president and finance minister facing a criminal probe into their role in the controversial bailout of a troubled bank.
The annual PERC poll put Southeast Asia's biggest economy last in a table of regional economies with a score of 9.27 out of the worst possible 10. Indonesia also came last in 2009, but with a marginally better score of 8.32.
Cambodia was ranked the second most corrupt regional nation with a grade of 9.10, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Zero means the country or territory is seen to suffer the least corruption among politicians and civil servants, PERC said in the report.
The Hong Kong-based consultancy said Indonesian lawmakers' call for a criminal probe into the Yudhoyono government's bailout of Bank Century in 2008 reflected attempts by a corrupt establishment to maintain the status quo. 'Corruption has become a charge being used by corrupt people to protect themselves and to stifle reform,' PERC said. 'The whole fight against corruption is in danger of being corrupted,' it said.
The United States - included for comparison purposes - placed fourth with a score of 3.42, followed by Japan (3.49), Macau (4.96), South Korea (5.98), Taiwan (6.28), Malaysia (6.47) and China (6.52). PERC's poll was conducted from December to February, and involved 2,147 mid-level and senior Asian and expatriate business executives working in the 16 economies.
