Tunku Abdul Aziz

mysinchew.com

If there is one person whom I admire for his sustained contribution to tackling corruption in societies across the world, it is Bertrand de Speville, the author of a soon to be published down to earth practical book, written specially for high level anti-corruption decision makers in the cabinet rooms, and the legislative chambers, in the developed and the developing world.

This book is destined to become a standard work for those who, by virtue of their high political office, are assigned the unenviable task of developing national anti-corruption policies. They will obviously need to have a grasp of the essentials in order to confront corruption decisively. This is where this book, written in language that is direct and concise, comes into its own.

It does not claim to be the last word on preventing the spread of corruption, about which much has been written by academic theoreticians and international institutional experts. Typically, the author chooses to offer his work instead as a modest “briefing note” for those with responsibility for developing practical and effective policies to fight the scourge we now call corruption that impoverishes nations and retards orderly and sustainable social, economic and political growth in communities that need it most.

Fighting corruption, like corruption itself, has taken on the status of a growth industry, and the proliferation of books on this subject is bewildering. Unfortunately, they are nothing more than interesting academic exercises and, from my standpoint, have little practical value for a busy decision maker or a legislator who wants to get straight to the heart of the matter.

This book, which I have been privileged to cast an eye in draft, lives up to its author’s aim of helping those who provide advice to governments on what it takes to get the job done good, and done well. Its appearance could not have been more timely as nations are shedding their natural ambivalence towards corrupt practices, and are showing greater determination to get to grips with a condition that they realise, from examples elsewhere, can be brought under control with a combination of strong political will, appropriate legal framework and public support.

I have for many years followed closely Bertrand de Speville’s anti-corruption strategies from the time he was appointed Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong, right up to the present. He has reinvented himself since Hong Kong where he made his mark as a thinking, pragmatic leader and built the Independent Commission Against Corruption into the world’s leading anti-corruption outfit. The ICAC Hong Kong model is synonymous with high standards of professionalism and dedication that other anti- corruption organisations can only dream about.

This excellent book reveals a side of the man who today is a much respected and sought after international consultant; his highly developed sense of fairness and equity even as he suggests tough measures to make corruption an unprofitable enterprise speaks volumes of his personal integrity. He believes that much as we want to bring corruption under control, we must never let our passion and outrage get in the way of the rule of law.

Bertrand de Speville has shown us that there is no substitute for strict observance of the legal niceties in pursuing our anti-corruption objectives. His legal training and subsequent distinguished career, culminating in his appointment as Solicitor General Hong Kong prior to his heading the ICAC must have influenced the way he reshaped what was to become, during his stewardship, a respected fighting organisation that carried out its difficult remit by showing the people of Hong Kong that there was really only one law for all.

In the years I have known Bertrand de Speville professionally, I have come to the honest conclusion many share with me that what he does not know about fighting corruption is not worth knowing.

I commend this publication when it appears in the world’s bookshops to all whose job it is to develop and implement national anti-corruption policies and strategies. It will, no doubt, I am sure, be equally useful to those who want to add to their knowledge on what it takes to get the job done.