SINGAPORE – The Philippines is perceived by foreign businessmen as Asia’s most corrupt economy, according to a survey Tuesday that also found countries were failing properly to tackle corruption.
Singapore and Hong Kong were seen as the cleanest economies, while China, Indonesia and Vietnam posted improvements, the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said in a summary made available to Agence France Presse (AFP).
Perception of corruption in Thailand worsened, with the military junta now in power after last September’s coup seen as little better than the government it ousted.
“The Philippines has the distinction of being perceived in the worst light this year,” PERC said after polling 1,476 expatriate business executives in 13 countries and territories across the region in January and February.
In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, the Philippines got 9.40, worsening sharply from its grade of 7.80 last year. Indonesia had been deemed Asia’s most corrupt country in 2006.
PERC, which provides advice to private firms and governments, said it had not noted a worsening in the actual situation in the Philippines despite its deteriorating score.
“It is bad and has been bad all along. People are just growing tired of the inaction and insincerity of leading officials when they promise to fight corruption,” it said.
The protracted corruption trial of deposed president Joseph Estrada “is an example of the problem and probably explains why respondents to our survey were so negative in their assessment” of the country.
Thailand and Indonesia, both on a grade of 8.03, shared the spot as Asia’s second most corrupt nations.
Thailand’s image worsened slightly on last year while Indonesia’s score was better.
The junta that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra as Thailand’s prime minister last September promised to fight corruption “but there is no reason to be confident that its behavior will be any cleaner,” PERC said.
On Indonesia, PERC said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s campaign to crack down on corruption has “produced some positive results, but he is still swimming against the current.”
The rankings of the 13 economies put Malaysia mid-table, marginally worse than last year.
“One of the big disappointments for many Malaysians is that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not been able or willing to follow through effectively with his campaign promise to reduce corruption,” PERC said.
