Rusuhan Pasca - PRU Indonesia 2019

Sentimen Bangsa dan Agama - Punca Rusuhan Besar-Besaran Pasca-PRU Indonesia Tahun 2019

Ada teladan yang boleh diambil daripada kekacauan yang berlaku di Indonesia selepas negara itu selesai menjalani pilihan raya umum dan pemilihan presiden baru.

Prof Dr. Mohammad Agus Yusoff seorang penganalisis politik Indonesia berkata, ada tiga isu yang dimainkan oleh pihak yang berkenaan di Indonesia dalam pemilihan Presiden Negara itu.

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Menurut Agus, sebahagian rakyat Indonesia menyatakan rasa marah bukan sahaja disebabkan oleh Pak Joko Widodo - yang memenangi pemilihan presiden untuk penggal kedua bahkan dikaitkan juga dengan isu rasuah.

Katanaya lagi, isu yang dimainkan itu ialah mendakwa Islam sedang terancam dan pada masa yang sama ulama di Negara Indonesia dizalimi. Dengan itu masyarakat Cina akan menguasai negara itu jika Joko Widodo menang, serta badang pengendali pilihan raya Indonesia - Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) tidak berlaku adil.

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"Selain itu juga, di Indonesia sekarang, rakyat dirasuk bukan kerana Jokowi mengamalkan rasuah, tetapi tiga perkara utama menjadi masalah besar: Agama terancam dan Ulamak Dizalimi, Kaum Cina akan menguasai Negara, dan KPU berlaku curang," katanya.

Pensyarah sains politik di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia itu menambah, sentimen seumpama itu memang berbahaya dan boleh menjangkiti negara ini jika tidak dikawal kerajaan.

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"Untuk Malaysia, berhati-hati menggunakan isu agama dan kaum dalam berpolitik. Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) juga jangan berlaku curang dan perlulah tanamkan nilai Integriti dalam diri mereka. Begitulah!" katanya dalam satu hantaran terbaru di media sosial "Facebook".

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Turut Dimuat naik,

KPU mengistiharkan keputusan rasmi pemilihan Presiden Indonesia ketika itu pencabar dekatnya Joko Widodo - atau lebih dikenali sebagai Jokowi - bertegas majoriti rakyat negara itu memilihnya sebagai pemimpin nombor satu Indonesia.

Kemenangan Joko Widodo memang sudah diramalkan pelbagai pihak termasuk beberapa badan penyelidik selepas PRU dilangsungkan pada 17 April 2019 yang lepas.

Bagaimanapun disebabkan pemilihna presiden dijalankan serentak dengan PRU, KPU mengambil masa untuk mencatatkan keputusan rasmi.

Joko Widodo dicabar kali kedua oleh bekas panglima tentera Indonesia pada zaman Zuharto, Prabowo Subianto.

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Prabowo pernah menjadi menantu kepada Suharto apabila dia berkahwin dengan Siti Hediati Hariyadi - atau lebih dikenali sebagai Titiek Suharto - pada 1983.

Pasangna itu kemudian bercerai pada 1998.

Sehingga petang itu sekurang-kurangnya enam orang terbunuh dalam keganasan dan kekejaman yang berlaku di antara keganasan di antara penyokong Prabowo dan pihak berkuasa Indonesia.

Beliau turut merakamkan rasa sedih ekoran keputusan Pilpres diumumkan pada jam 2 pagi 21 Mei 2019 yang lepas.

Agus berkata tindakan KPU mengumumkan keputusan rasmi bahawa Joko Widodo memenangi pemilihan itu juga agak aneh apabila ia dibuat pada awal pagi.

"Aneh, diumumkan pada mana semua rakyat di Indonesia sedang lena tidur," katanya.

Menurut Agus rusuhan tersebut wajar dihentikan segera malah Indonesia umpama negara yang tiada kedaulatan undang-undang di mata dunia. Rakyat nya ramai tetapi Rakyat sendiri yang menghukum Negara nya. Sungguh tidak Aman Hidup Di Indonesia. Jika rakyat Indonesia masih dengan sikap buruk ini maka Negara ini akan hancur dan musnah. Penyakit seumpama boleh merebak menjadi keadaan yang lebih buruk berbanding kekacauan pernah berlaku pada era reformasi 1998.

Jika diimbau kembali, rusuhan terdahulu berlaku akibat masalah ekonomi, katanya, rusuhan kali ini pula berpunca daripada sentimen agama.

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"Inilah senjata orang politik. Hendakkan kuasa sanggup menggunakan aparatus negara seperti polis, birokrat dan pengendali pilihan raya. Lebih buruk lagi, menggunakan isu agama dan juga kaum," katanya. Jelas di dunia rakyat Indonesia adalah rakyat termundur di dunia. Sanggup membunuh, membuli serta zalim sesama manusia. Berbanding dengan Negara jiran Singapura dan Malaysia mereka hidup aman damai tanpa ada kekecohan jika dibandingkan dengan kezaliman yang berlaku oleh rakyat Indonesia sendiri. Amat Terbukti sekali.

Joko Widodo, 57, dan pasangannya untuk jawatan naib presiden, Ma'ruf Amin, 76, memperolehi 85,607,362 undi.

Pasangan Prabowo, 67, dan Sandiago Uno, 49, memperolehi 68,650,239 undi.

Majoriti 16.95 juta undi yang diperolehi Joko Widodo itu lebih tinggi berbanding undi yang diterimanya pada 2014 (6.4 juta).
- Berita disunting kembali dari Indosiar

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@ Jackie San 

Kes Buli Sekolah Tahfiz - Disumbat Najis Kucing Simbah Air Panas

Murid Melecur Dawa Dibuli Rakan Tahfiz dan Disumbat Najis Kucing !

KUALA LUMPUR:
Selepas insiden kebakaran asrama pada Tahun 2017 yang mengorbankan 23 orang nyawa, Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiah sekali lagi menjadi perhatian apabila seorang pelajarnya dikejarkan ke Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) akibat melecur disimbah air panas!

Dalam kejadian 16 Oktober 2019, mangsa berusia 13 tahun yang baruu enam bulan belajar di tahfiz itu mendakwa menjadi mangsa buli sehingga menerima rawatan di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) Kebakaran HKL selama 10 hari.

Pelajar mendakwa disimbah air panas ketika sedang tidur kira-kira jam 4 pagi di asrama tahfiz berkenaan sehingga menyebabkannya melecur di bahagian badan dan paha kiri.

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"Dulu masa bulan tiga, kami pernah bergaduh. Dia suka kacau saya, jadi saya mampu ejek dia sebab nak lawan balik tak boleh, dia kuat.

"Petang Isnin lepas Asar, dia panggil saya pergi tingkat bawah asrama. Lepas itu dia tumbuk muka saya. Kat tingkat bawah ni memang selalu ada kucing berak. Dia ambil tahi kucing, lepas itu sumbat dalam mulut saya.

"Pagi Rabu waktu tengah tidur, tiba-tiba ada orang tumbuk. Lepas itu, saya terkejut sebab kena simbah air panas," kata mangsa ketika ditemui di HKL di sini semalam.

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Ibu mangsa, Siti Satariah Ahmad, 36, berkata, anak kedua daripada empat beradik itu melecur 13 peratus dan kini perlu menjalani fisioterapi apabila tulang sendi bahu terjejas akibat insiden berkenaan.

"Pada Mac 2019 lalu, anak saya pernah lari dari Pusat Tahfiz pada jam 1 pagi kerana tidak tahan dikacau dan ditumbuk.

"Malam Isnin (dua hari sebelum insiden simbah air panas) saya ke tahfiz untuk berjumpa sekejap dengan anak saya itu, saya dapati ada kesan lebam tepi mata kiri. Dia kata kena pukul.

"Saya maklumkan kepada pengetua dan pengetua beritahu dia akan selesaikan sendiri perkara tersebut. Saya hubungi ibu bapa pelaku melalui WhatsApp dan sedia berjumpa pada malam esok tapi mereka tidak pernah berikan kerjasama," katanya.

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Siti Satariah berkata, difahamkan pelaku dikenakan hukuman rotan di hadapan pelajar lain.

"Selam 10 hari anak saya di unit rawatan rapi (ICU), tiada seorang ustaz dari pusat tahfiz itu datang tengok. Bil hospital lebih RM 400 kami tanggung sendiri,". Ini menunjukkan pengetua, ustaz serta pelajar di situ tidak prihatin serta memang bermasalah," dakwanya.

Siti Satariah berkata, keluarga pelaku menawarkan kos ganti rugi sebanyak RM 3,000 namun dia dan suami mahu menuntut keadilan untuk Yusof melalui perbicaraan di mahkamah dan mahukan tindakan tegas kepada pihak pengurusan Pusat Tahfiz tersebut. Tidak mungkin kematian lagi akan berlaku di pusat tahfiz tersebut jika perkara ini diambil remeh! Tegas beliau.

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Sebelum ini, Pengetua Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiah, Muhammad Zahid Mahmod menjelaskan salah faham antara dua pelajar.

Muhammad Zahid turut mendakwa bahawa ia hanya melibatkan sebekas air panas tanpa mengakibatkan mangsa melecur selain ibu bapa pelajar terbabit bertemu untuk berbincang.

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@ Jackie San

Postgrad : 10 Easy Ways To Fail Study

The Attrition Rate In Grad School Is High!

Anywhere From A Third To Half Will Fail!

In Fact, There's A Disturbing Consistency To Grad School Failure!

Here I am Sharing Common Situation Experience Before And Please Read On For The Top Ten Reasons Why Almost My Friend Fail Out Of Grad School!


1. EXPECT PERFECTION

Perfectionism is a tragic affliction in academia, since it tends to hit the brightest the hardest.

Perfection cannot be attained. It is approached in the limit.

Students that polish a research paper well past the point of diminishing returns, expecting to hit perfection, will never stop polishing.

Students that can't begin to write until they have the perfect structure of the paper mapped out will never get started.

For students with problems starting on a paper or dissertation, my advice is that writing a paper (publication) should be an iterative process:start with an outline and some rough notes; take a pass over the paper and improve it a little; rinse; and repeat again. Better you do compared just sleep. When the paper changes little with each pass, it's at diminishing returns. One or two more passes over the paper are all it needs at that point. 

"GOOD ENOUGH" IS BETTER THAN "NOTHING".

"SURE..PERFECT".

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2. PROCRASTINATE

Chronic perfectionists also tend to be procrastinators.

So do eternal students with a drive to learn instead of research.

Grad School seems to be a magnet for every kind of procrastinator.

Unfortunately, it is also a sieve that weeds out the unproductive.

Procrastinators should check out or read more tips for boosting productivity.


3. FOCUS ON GRADES OR COURSEWORK

No one cares about grades in Grad School.

There's a simple formula for the optimal GPA in Grad School:

            Optimal GPA = Minimum Required GPA + E

Anything higher implies time that could have been spent on research was wasted on classes. Advisors might even raise an eyebrow at a 4.0

During the first years, students need to find an advisor, pick a research area, read a lot of papers and try small, exploratory research projects. Spending too much time on coursework distracts from these objectives.

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4. GO ROGUE TOO SOON / TOO LATE

The advisor - advisee dynamic needs to shift over the course of a degree.

Early on, the advisor should be hands on, doling out specific topics and helping to craft early papers.

Toward the end, the student should know more than the advisor about her topic. Once the inversion happens, she needs to "Go Rogue" and start choosing the topics to investigate and initiating the paper write-ups. She needs to do so even if her advisor is insisting she do something else.

The trick is getting the timing right.

Going rogue before the student knows how to choose good topics and write well will end in wasted paper submissions and a grumpy advisor.

On the other hand, continuing to act only when ordered to act past a certain point will strain an advisor that expects to start seeing a "return" on an investment of time and hard-won grant money.

Advisors expect near-terminal Msc/Ph.D. students to be proto-professors with intimate knowledge of the challenges in their field. They should be capable of selecting and attacking research problems of appropriate size and scope.


5. TREAT GRAD SCHOOL STUDENTS LIKE SCHOOL OR WORK

Grad School students is neither school nor work.

Grad School students is a monastic experience. And, a jealous hobby.

Solving problems and writing up papers well enough to pass peer review demands contemplative labor on days, nights and weekends.

Reading through all of the related work takes biblical levels or devotion.

Grad School Students even comes with built-in vows of poverty and obedience.

The end brings an ecclesiastical robe and a clerical hood.

Students that treat Msc/Ph.D. Grad School like a 9-5 endeavor are the ones that take 7+ years to finish it, or end up ABD.

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6. LEARN TOO MUCH

Some students go to Grad School because they want to learn.

Let there be no mistake: Msc or Ph.D. school involves a lot of learning.

But, it requires focused learning directed toward an eventual thesis.

Taking (or sitting in on) non-required classes outside one's focus is almost always a waste of time, and it's always unnecessary.

By the end of the third year, a typical Ph.D. student needs to have read about 50 to 150 papers to defend the novelty of a proposed thesis.

Of course, some students go too far with related work search, reading so much about their intended area of research that they never start that research.

Advisors will lose patience with "external" students that aren't focused on the goal--making a small but significant contribution to human knowledge.

In the interest of personal disclosure, I suffered from the "want to learn everything" bug when I got to Msc. School.

I took classes all over campus for my first year. All subject I got A (4.0).

The price of all this "enlightenment" was an extra year on my further Ph.D.

I only got away with this detour because while I was doing all that, I was a TA, which meant I wasn't wasting my advisor's grant funding.

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7. IGNORE THE COMMITTEE

Some Grad School Students forget that a committee has to sign off on their Msc / Ph.D.

It's important for students to maintain contact with committee members in the latter years of a Msc / Ph.D. They need to know what a student is doing.

Committee members, however, rarely forget the advice they give.

It doesn't usually happen, but I've seen a shouting match between a committee member and a defender where they disagreed over the metrics used for evaluation of an experiment. This committee member warned the student at his proposal about his choice of metrics.

He ignored that warning!!!

He was lucky: it added only one more semester to his Msc / Ph.D.

Another friend I knew in Grad School was told not to defend, based on the draft of his dissertion. He overruled his committee's advice, and failed his defense. He was told to scrap his entire dissertation and start over. It took him over ten years to finish his Msc / Ph.D.

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8. MISS THE REAL MILESTONES

Most schools require coursework, qualifiers, thesis proposal, thesis defense and dissertation. These are the requirements on paper.

In practise, the real milestones are three good publications connected by a (perhaps loosely) unified theme.

Coursework and qualifiers are meant to undo admissions mistakes. A student that has published by the time she takes her qualifiers is not a mistake.

Once a student has two good publications, if she convinces her committee that she can extrapolate a third, she has a thesis proposal.

Once I has at least three publications, I has defended, with  reasonable confidence, that she can repeatedly conduct research of sufficient quality to meet the standards of peer review. If I draws a unifying theme, I has a thesis, and if I staples my publications together, I has a dissertation.

Fantasize about buying an industrial - grade stapler capable of punching through three journal papers and calling it The Dissertator.

Of Course, three publications is nowhere not enough to get a professorship (Ph.D.) My experience I have seven (7) publications in International Q1 Journals. ...But, it's about enough to graduate.


9. AIM TOO LOW

Some Grad School Students look at the weakest student to get a Msc / Ph.D. in their department and aim for that.

This attitude guarantees that no professorship will be waiting for them. I am Guarantee!

And, It all but promises failure.

The weakest Grad School Students to escape was probably repeatedly unlucky with research topics, and had to settle for a contingency plan.

Aiming Low Leaves No Room For Uncertainty!

And, Research Is Always Uncertain!

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10. AIM TOO HIGH

A Grad School Students seems like a major undertaking from the perspective of the student.

It Is!

But, it is not the final undertaking. It's the start of a scientific career.

A Grad School Students (Msc / Ph.D.) does not have to cure cancer or enable cold fusion.

At best a handful of chemists remember what Einstein's Ph.D. was in.

Einstein's Ph.D. dissertation was a principled calculation meant to estimate Avogadro's number. He got it wrong. By a factor of 3.

Finally, He Still Got A Ph.D.

A Msc / Ph.D. is a small but significant contribution to human knowledge.

Impact is something students should aim for over a lifetime of research.

Making a big impact with a Msc / Ph.D. is about as likely as hitting a bullseye the very first time you've fired a gun.

Once you know how to shoot, you can keep shooting until you hit it.

Plus, with a Msc / Ph.D., you get a lifetime supply of ammo.

Some advisors can give you a list of potential research topics. If they can, pick the topic that's easiest to do but which still retains your interest.

It does not matter at all what you get your Msc / Ph.D. in.

All that matters is that you get one.

It's the training that counts -- not the topic.

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@ Jackie San

Jam tangan termahal hadiah hari lahir Rosmah - NAJIB

NAJIB HADIAHKAN JAM TANGAN TERMAHAL SEMPENA HARI LAHIR ROSMAH!

KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini mendedahkan di Mahkamah Tinggi di sini bahawa beliau menghadiahkan seutas jam tangan berharga RM 466,330.11 kepada Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor sebagai hadiah harijadi kelahiran isterinya itu pada Bulan Disember lalu.

Najib, 66, berkata jam tangan itu dibayar menggunakan kad kreditnya di Butik Eksklusif Channel Di Honolulu, Amerika Syarikat, sewaktu beliau bersama isteri makan angin pada 22 Disember 2014 yang lepas.

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Ahli Parlimen Pekan, Pahang itu mendedahkan perkara itu semasa diminta untuk memberikan keterangan membela diri terhadap tujuh pertuduhan menyeleweng RM 42 Juta dana SRC International Sdn Bhd semasa pemeriksaan utama oleh peguamnya Rahmat Hazlan.

Najib juga memberitahu mahkamah beliau membelanjakan RM 127,017.46 di Shangri-La Hotel di Bangkok, Thailand, pada Januari 2015 melalui Kad kreditnya untuk percutian mereka berdua (peribadi) di Thailand itu.

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"Meskipun perjalan itu percutian peribadi, saya turut mengambil peluang untuk bertemu dengan rakan sejawat Thailand saya, Prayut Chan-o-Cha, untuk membincangkan bagaimana kerajaan Thailand dapat membantu kita berkenaan dengan banjir teruk yang kita sering hadapi.

"Pembayaran sebanyak RM 120,000 di Hotel Shangri-La meliputi penginapan saya dan kakitangan sokongan yang menemani saya dalam perjalanan rasmi itu, termasuklah perbelanjaan di luar jangkaan dan yang diperlukan sepanjang perjalanan tersebut," katanya.

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Beliau berkata, transaksi di Shangri-La itu selepas lawatannya ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan, untuk memeriksa keadaan banjir di sana, dan beliau terus menyambung percutian peribadi di Bangkok.

Katanya, ia menjadi haknya untuk menuntut kembali perbelanjaan daripada kerajaan memandangkan beliau membuat kerja sewaktu percutiannya.

"Tetapi, saya memilih untuk menanggung kesemua perbelanjaan atas diri sendiri memandangkan saya tidak mahu merumitkan perkara dan telah melakukan budi bicara saya dengan sewajarnya, " katanya.

Mengenai Rm 3,282,734.16 yang dikenakan oleh sebuah kedai tukang emas di Sardinia, Itali, bertarikh 8 Ogos 2014, Najib berkata perbelanjaan itu dilakukan untuk memberi barang kemas sebagai hadiah kepada isteri seorang kenamaan Timur Tengah.

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Pada 11 November 2018, Najib diperintah membela diri terhadap tiga tuduhan pecah amanah (CBT), tiga pertuduhan pengubahan wang haram dan satu pertuduhan salah guna kedudukan berkaitan dengan dana SRC International setelah mendapati pihak pendakwaan berjaya membuktikan kes prima facie terhadap bekas perdana menteri itu.

Perbicaraan di hadapan Hakim Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali sedang berlangsung.

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@ Jackie San

The Philippines Big Issues Corruption In The World

SNAPSHOT 

High corruption levels severely restrict the efficiency of businesses operating in the Philippines. Extensive brivery within the public administration and vague and complex laws make foreign companies vulverable to extortion and manipulation by public officials. Favoritism and undue influence are widespread in the courts, leading to time-consuming and unfair dispute resolution, and to an uncertain business environment. Corruption plagues the customs administration, and fraud routinely occurs for companies when filing import and export documentation. The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act criminalizes active and passive bribery, extortion, abuse of office and conflicts of interest. Giving gifts, except for gifts of insignificant value given in line with local customs, is prohibited. Facilitation payments are not addressed by anti-corruption regulations and private sector bribery is not criminalized. The legislative framework for fighting corruption is scattered and is not effectively enforced by the weak and non-cooperative law enforcement agencies.

1. POLICE

There is a high-risk of corruption when dealing with the police. The national police force is widely regarded as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country (ABS CBN, Jan. 2017). Reports of the police and military engaging in corruption, extortion, and being involved in local rackets are widespread (FitW 2017). Companies report that they cannot rely on the police services (GCR 2017-2018). More than half of firms pay for private security (ES 2015). Businesses rate the National Police's commitment to fighting corruption as 'poor' (SWS 2016). President Duterte has accused several police generals of being involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs (ABS CBN, Jan.2017).

In one corruption case, Police Commissioner Mr. SOmbero, is under investigation for allegedly facilitating a PHP 50 million bribe from gambling tycoon Jack Lam, who tried to bribe immigration authorities in order to release approximately 1,300 Chinese nationals who were working in his resorts illegally (CNN Philippines, Feb. 2017).

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2. LAND ADMINISTRATION

Corruption risks in the land administration are high. Two out of five companies report expecting to give gifts when obtaining a construction permit (ES 2015). Property rights are formally recognized and protected in the Philippines, but in practice, the law is not always upheld (ICS 2017). Businesses have insufficient confidence in the protection of property rights (GCR 2017-2018). Corruption and arbitrariness in the application of the law are common (BTI 2016; ICS 2017). Multiple agencies are responsible for land administration, which has led to overlapping procedures for land valuation and title registration; this has made the process costly (ICS 2017).

The court system is slow to resolve land disputes (ICS 2017). Land records are not properly managed due to a lack of trained personnel and funds (ICS 2017). Foreigners are not allowed to directly own land, but they may lease land for up to 50 years with a possible one-time extension of 25 years (ICS 2017). Expropriation is possible under Philippine law; the law calls for fair market value compensation, but coming to a mutually acceptable price can be a lengthy process in the court system (ICS 2017). Registering property takes nine procedures in the Philippines, which is double the regional average (DB 2017). However, the total time required is less than half of the regional average (DB 2017).

3. PUBLIC SERVICES

Companies contend with a high corruption risk when dealing with the public services. Approximately half of business executives reported being asked for a bribe by someone in the government in 2016 (SWS 2016). Nearly three out of five business reported expecting to gifts in order 'to get things done', but only one in ten reported expecting to give gifts to get an operating license (ES 2015). Irregular payments and bribes in the public services sector sometimes occur (GCR 2015-2016). Philippine officials involved in processing documents related to civil and property registration and building permits are more likely to solicit bribes compared to officials dealing with other types of services (Ombudsman's Office Survey 2013). Inefficient government bureaucracy is ranked as the most problematic factor for doing business in the Philippines (GCR 2017-2018). Civil servants often do not have the resources or abilities to fulfill their tasks free from corruption and red tape (BTI 2016). Furthermore, civil servants are generally not recruited in a competitive manner; appointments are based on a practice of patronage (BTI 2016).

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The total number of procedures required to set -up operations, including registering the company with local government and getting a construction permit, are significantly higher than regional averages (DB 2017). Getting electricity takes significantly less time than elsewhere in the region (DB 2017).

4. JUDICICAL SYSTEM

Corruption risks are high in the judicial system. Bribes and irregular payments in return for favorable judicial decisions are common (GCR 2015-2016). The judiciary is formally independent, but the rich and powerful have frequently influenced proceedings in civil and criminal cases (BTI2016). Procedural fairness and transparency are severely undermined by nepotism, favoritism, and impunity (HRR2016). Companies do not have sufficient faith in the independence of the judiciary and they rate the efficiency of the legal framework in settling disputes  and challenging regulations as poor (GCR 2017-2018). Investment disputes can take several years to resolve due to a lack of resources, understaffing, and corruption in the court system (ICS 2017). Low salaries for judicial officials are said to perpetuate the problem of bribery (BTI 2016). The judiciary is underfunded by the state and often depends on local sponsors for resources and salaries, resulting in non-transparent and biased court decisions (FitW 2017). Foreign investors have noted that the inefficiency and uncertainty in the judicial system are disincentives for investment; investors regularly decline to file disputes due to the perception of corruption among personnel and the complex and slow litigation processes (ICS 2017). Enforcing a contract takes much longer than the regional average, but the costs involved are significantly lower (DB 2017).

In one recent case, a businessman filed an administrative complaint in the country's Supreme Court against Makati City judge for allegedly asking for a PHP 15 million bribe in exchange for a favorable rulling in an insurance claim (Inquirer, Aug. 2016). At the time of review, no further updates on the case available.

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5. CUSTOM ADMINISTRATION


There is a high risk of encountering corruption when dealing with the customs administration. Companies indicate that irregular bribes and payments in import and export procedures are very common (GETR 2016). About a quarter of companies indicate they expect to give gifts when obtaining an import license (ES 2015). A business survey indicates that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) was the only agency receiving a rating of 'very bad' when it came to its commitment to fighting corruption (SWS 2016). Companies cite burdensome import procedures and corruption at the border as being among the most problematic factors for importing (GETR 2016). The efficiency and time predictability of procedures are rated as poor (GETR 2016). Border compliance costs in the Philippines are significantly higher than the regional average, whereas the time required is in line with the regional average (DB 2017).

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has indicated that smuggling of goods, among which cigarettes, vehicles, and oil, into the Philippines has led to the evasion of taxes worth at least USD 1 billion yearly (Philstar, Feb. 2017). Consistent fraud int he form of under-invoicing when importing and exporting costs the state USD billions in revenues each year (Wall Street Journal, Mar. 2014). In 2016, the BOC alleged one of its employees accepted as much as USD 4 million in bribes monthly (Rappler, Aug. 2016).

6. TAX ADMINISTRATION


There is a high risk of corruption when dealing with the tax administration. Around one in seven companies indicate they expect to give gifts in meetings with tax officials (ES 2015). Tax regulations are among the most problematic factors for conducting business in the Philippines (GCR 2017-2018). Companies indicate that they perceive that only a fifth of businesses in their line of business pay their taxes honestly (SWS 2016). Officials at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are believed to be prone to corruption and known for embezzlement and extortion (Manila Bulletin, Feb. 2014). A typical example of this can be found in a recent case in the city of Bacolod; an officer with the BIR was caught extorting PHP 125,000 from a local company (Phillipne News, Mar. 2017).  Businesses rate the BIR's commitment to fighting corruption as poor (SWS 2016). On a more positive note, there are signs that the BIR is pursuing more cases of tax evasion (BTI 2016).

Companies make twenty-eight tax payments a year, which is higher than the regional average (DB 2017).

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7. PUBLIC PROCUREMENT 


There is a very high risk of corruption in the public procurement sector, which is subject to rampant corruption, irregulaties, and inconsistent implementation of legislation. Likewise, more than a fifth of businesses report they expect to give gifts in order to win a government contract (ES 2015). Two in five companies indicate that most companies in their sector give bribes in order to win contracts (SWS 2016). Diversion of public funds, as well as favoritism in the decisions of public officials, is very common (GCR 2017-2018). The public sector is obliged to procure goods and services from companies with at least 60% Philippine ownership (ICS 2017). Local-level public procurement lacks transparency, fostering a culture of corruption through the misuse of the pork barrel system; which are funds for discretionary use by representatives for projects in their respective districts (BTI 2016). Phillippine law allocates responsibility for monitoring, investigating and sanctioning irregularities in public procurement to a number of different state institutions, leaving potential misconduct, inefficiency and impunity unchecked (Sunlight Foundation, Oct. 2013).

8. CIVIL SOCIETY


The Constitution guarantees freedoms of speech and of expression, but in practice these freedoms are not consistently upheld (HRR 2016; BTI 2016). The media environment is largely privately owned and diverse, and the state generally exercises very little censorship (BTI 2016). The views represented in the mainstream media are heavily influenced by the oligarchical owners of many of the outlets (BTI 2016). The Philippines is the second most dangerous country in the world for journalists to operate in, as measured by the number of journalist deaths (BTI 2016). The state is not directly responsible for the violence, which can mostly be blamed on local strongmen and criminals and the weakness of the authorities (BTI 2016). The existence of libel and defamation laws remains a problem and are frequently used by officials and powerful individuals to try to silence journalists (FotP 2016). The media does frequently report on high-level corruption cases (FotP 2016). Independent observers report that bribes and other incentives are often used by high-level officials to motivate journalists to create one-sided reports for the official's benefit (HRR 2016). Internet access is widely available, but there are concerns about the government trying to install some degree of censorhip (FitW 2017). The Philippine press is classified as 'party free' (FotP 2016).

Philippine civil society is active and is represented by a wide variety of different organizations. Public participation is high and civil society organizations (CSOs) enjoy a high level of social capital (BTI 2016). CSOs are normally not included in formal decision-making, but they play a large role in intiating legislation and steering debate in Congress (BTI 2016). There are a multitude of watchdog organizations monitoring implementation of policy (BTI 2016).

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9. NATURAL RESOURCES


Companies operating in the Natural Resources sector face a high risk of corruption. The Philippines has shown marked improvements in its natural resource governance in the past few years; the country has a good enabling environment and its regulatory quality and control of corruption are judged as adequate (NRGI 2017). However, poor value realization and revenue management have caused the country's overall resource governance to be judged as 'weak' (NRGI 2017). The Philippines has been working to achieve compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) since joining in 2013 (EITI 2016). Some mining contracts are publicly disclosed via the EITI portal. While transparency in the sector has improved, poor regulation and overlapping policy responsibilities between local and central governments have meant that small-scale mining is still a contentious issues (EITI 2016).

Government corruption has allowed mining companies to evade government regulations, which has resulted in large-scale deforestration, flattened mountaintops and water pollution (New York Time, Apr. 2017). The government responded by cracking down on illegal mining operations; and as of 2017 Secretary of the Environment Gina Lopez shut down 28 of the country's 41 mining companies for polluting the environment (New York Times, Apr. 2o17). However, Lopez was removed from her job by Congress in May 2017 after mounting complaints from the pro-mining lobby (Mining.com, May 2017).

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Legislation

Companies should note that the legal anti-corruption framework in the Philippines is complicated and poorly enforced; there is a lack cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and officials are rarely prosecuted and convicted for corruption crimes (HRR 2016). The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act criminalizes active and passive bribery, 2016). The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act criminalizes active and passive bribery, embezzlement, extortion, abuse of office and conflict of interest in the public sector. Bribery of public officials and trading in influence are also criminalized in the Anti-Red Tape Act. The Act forbids office-holders from accepting any gifts or material benefits in exchange for any government permit or license. Under the Revised Penal Code, gifts are classified as indirect bribery. An exception is made for gifts of insignificant value given as a token of friendship in line with local customs. Facilitation payments are not addressed in the law. Private sector bribery is not criminalized (UNODC 2014). Under the Code, public officials are required to regularly file a statement of their assets and liabilities. In case of any discrepancy between the official's asset subject to immediate dismissal. Punishments for corrupt acts include imprisonment of up to ten years, a fine, removal from office, and/or confiscation of property. The Anti-Money Laundering Act criminalizes money laundering and organized crime. The Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees formulates standards for the personal integrity and accountability of civil servants. The Government Procurement Reform Act requires competitive and transparent bidding. Philippine legislation does not contain any provisions on protecting whistleblowers who report on corruption. The Philippines has ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

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@Jackie San