Bandar Seri Begawan - The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) yesterday issued a statement clarifying that the Asset Declaration initiative is recommended under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), however, it is not mandatory for member states to implement all the initiatives under the said convention.

The ACB has reiterated its intent to "seek and explore the possibility and viability of implementing some of the initiatives recommended with the objective of enhancing the effectiveness of the bureau in the fight against corruption in Brunei Darussalam."
Father of four, Hj Ahmad, applauded the move and posed the question, "If Brunei stands to benefit, why not?" "For me, if it is good for the country, I would do it right away," he added.

Despite the concept being in its infancy, the public is giving their backing to the ACB's push for Asset Declaration, but they would also like further information on what would be permitted and not.

"I don't know if it's a good or bad (idea), but it will definitely be a strong mechanism used to keep everything in check," said a Public Works Department officer who wished to remain anonymous.

He added that such steps would reduce suspicions on those who do have assets and safeguard them from unwanted investigations. "The ACB can ask to declare all assets, but at the same time define what is allowed or deemed acceptable as a side business," said the officer, requesting dear cut examples of restrictions that will be placed, especially in the case of professionals.

"Engineers cannot have a construction company, however, they can have a bakery. These need to be outlined," he said.

Ahmad Tarmizi, who works in the private sector, said that the scope should also be extended to individuals in private companies. "The private companies could also be included, especially those involved in big projects," he said.

This would greatly improve transparency and reduce chances of corruption taking place. "Since other countries have systems in place to monitor mollies, Brunei could look at the best practices and adopt what is relevant to them," said Ahmad.

"There is the Internal Revenue Service in America, and maybe Brunei could look into transactions over a certain threshold, or have in place a system that would flag transfers out of place," he said.

For Faadzil Yussof, a Universiti Brunei Darussalam undergraduate, such a declaration would improve Brunei's transparency and enhance its position in the Corruption Perception Index and similar assessments.

Brunei recently made it into Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index for the first time and is second to Singapore in Asean and seventh in the Asia-Pacific region. Overall, Brunei was placed 39th out of 180 countries.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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