Nay Pyi Taw, February 5

1. No one can deny the fact that corruption is both a moral turpitude and a heinous crime that can undermine the reputation of departmental staff and public trust. The task of establishing the Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs) in certain Union ministries is crucial for restoring the dignity of departmental staff and rebuilding public trust. However, the reluctance of some departments to fully embrace the CPU concept can be attributed to a lingering gap between traditional values and the values of the modern era of democratic reform. The question arises as to whether these departments will choose to prioritize public interest over private interest, public trust over selfish convenience for their own organization, and employees' dignity over bribes. The ability to accurately assess what is right or wrong, good or bad, is dependent on their individual values. If departmental employees prioritize their dignity, public trust, and the public interest, they will be less prone to corruption. Moreover, to effectively combat corruption, it is certain that other employees should actively engage in the CPU process, ensuring that necessary modifications are made with the least harm to all concerned parties.

2. The Commission recognizes that there are still widespread misunderstandings about the values associated with corruption within our society, extending beyond just employees. There may be many people who have yet to be taught fair and excellent values in school teaching or through their life experiences, who have minimal exposure to the Corruption free standard. This may include not only some young and middle-aged people, but even adults who hold prominent positions in society. We must acknowledge that the ethical and moral standards of our nation's civil servants, entrepreneurs, and typical consumers lag behind those of developed countries. Through prevention, investigation, and educational awareness programmes, the Commission is working towards sustainable development goals. For the long-term interests of the country, the Commission is organizing Edutainment programmes in elementary schools to promote integrity and combat corruption. The CPU is established under the provisions of Section 16 K of the Anti-Corruption Law and is an integral component of the Anti-Corruption Strategic Plan. We assumed that the authorities bear a responsibility for civil servants who engage in corrupt activities, as their lack of proper management may have contributed to the wrongdoing. As such, it is crucial to anticipate the conditions under which corruption could arise within the departments, so that they can be identified and addressed according to departmental laws, rules, and procedures. Conduct a Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) to see whether there are any potential corruption-related gaps in the order and instructions. By systematically addressing these loopholes, it is possible to prevent employees from engaging in corrupt activities in the future.

3. On one hand, the establishment of Corruption Prevention Unit (CPU) aims to eliminate internal staff corruption. On the other hand, it is successful in effectively addressing and combatting lower-level, petty corruption within departments and the general public. The Commission dedicated over six months working with Union Ministries to coordinate the implementation of the CPU plan to accelerate efforts in combating lower-level, petty corruption. The fourth Amendment to the Anti-Corruption Law, signed by the President on June 21, 2018 and put into effect immediately, has empowered the commission to proactively combat grand corruption, focusing specifically on critical areas like the state's procurement process, a significant element of grand corruption.

4. To combat corruption in Myanmar, businesses and government agencies need to make Integrity Pact based on integrity. We also encourage civil organizations to follow ethical rules, which we believe will reduce corruption in the future. The Commission is simultaneously developing its 2019 Action Plan to enhance its ability to respond more effectively to complaints that are received. According to the pilot project, the 14 Union Ministries have also formed CPUs and effectively collaborated in accordance with the goals specified, fulfilling the national government’s strong political commitment to fight corruption while the commission is promoting the speed of this.