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Education | Preventive Measures

Preventive Measures

Various preventive measures are in place to reduce opportunities for corruption particularly in the public service.

Review of Work Methods
Cumbersome work methods and procedures are improved upon to avoid delays in the granting of permits and licences and to prevent corrupt public officers from obtaining bribes from members of the public to expedite their approval.

Declaration of Non-Indebtedness
Every public officer is required to declare once a year that he is free from pecuniary embarrassment. An indebted public officer could easily place himself under obligation and be exploited. He is also more likely to succumb to corruption.

Declaration of Assets and Investments
Every public officer is required to declare, when he is first appointed and subsequently annually, his properties and investments in companies, including those of his spouse and dependent children. If the officer owns more than one property that is not in keeping with his salary earnings, he could be queried on how he could have the means to purchase them. If he owns some shares in private companies, he could be asked to divest ownership to prevent a conflict of interest.

Non-Acceptance of Gifts
Public officers are not permitted to receive any present in money or in kind from people having official dealings with them. They are also not permitted to accept any entertainment that will place them under any real or apparent obligation. If a person with whom he has official dealings presents him with any gift, he has to reject it. Where it is not practical to do so (such as a souvenir from a visiting dignitary), the officer can accept the gift and surrender it to his head of department. The officer, however, can retain the gift if he pays for it at the value assessed by the Accountant-General.

Do's and Don'ts for Public Officers

A list of "Dos" for Public Officers

1.	Report any corrupt overtures.
2.	Confine your relationship with members of the public who have official dealings with you to an official basis to avoid allegation of favouritism.
3.	Declare your interest in the business of any companies on account of yourself/family. Disqualify yourself from supervising the projects involved.
4.	Treat all persons you have official dealings with equally and fairly without fear or favour.
5.	Acquaint yourself with the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the policies and instructions of the department governing the conduct of officers.
6.	Consult your superiors if in doubt of the propriety of anything you wish to do.
7.	Always be loyal to and have the best interest of the department at heart.

A list of "Don'ts" for Public Officers

1.	Do not accept any reward from any member of the public for doing anything which is your duty to do.
2.	Do not accept reward from anyone for forbearing to do an act, which is your duty to do.
3.	Do not accept any reward to show or forbear to show favour to anyone in the course of your duty.
4.	Do not accept any reward to show or forbear to show disfavour to anyone in the course of your duty.
5.	Do not intentionally make any erroneous or incorrect statement or entry in official documents.
6.	Do not accept invitation to meals or entertainment from anyone you have official dealings with to prevent allegation of favoritism by their competitors.
7.	Do not accept gift or present from anyone you have official dealings with for any reason or on any occasion or festival.
8.	Do not extend invitation to anyone you have official dealings with to attend functions organised by you.
9.	Do not undertake any paid part-time employment or commercial enterprise without the written approval of the authorities.
10.	Do not accept any fee from anyone for professional services rendered to him/her in connection with your official duties.
11.	Do not accept remuneration or compensation from any contractor for working beyond your official time to supervise the project in hand.
12.	Do not invest in the business of anyone you have official dealings with.
13.	Do not accept any offer or share in the business or sub-contract from anyone you have official dealings with.
14.	Do not accept any commission or kickback from contractors on account of anyone providing service or goods.
15.	Do not accept any offer of free service (such as transport, renovation, etc) from anyone you have official dealings with.
16.	Do not fraternise with anyone you have official dealings with or practice favouritism.
17.	Do not accept overseas trip from contractors under the pretext of training or checking on products to be supplied from overseas.
18.	Do not conduct official meetings or negotiation with contractors at a public place or the office of the contractors unless there are reasons to do so.
19.	Do not visit the office or home of contractors who have official dealings with you.
20.	Do not obtain any loan (secured or unsecured) from contractors who have official dealings with you.
21.	Do not accept any offer of employment from contractors while supervising their projects.
22.	Do not allow contractors to pay your bills or installments.
23.	Do not let personal interest interfere with the discharge of your duties.
24.	Do not do anything to the detriment of the Government such as advising contractors to exploit any loophole in a contract with or without reward

Lest You Don't Know...

It is an offence to give or receive a bribe.
It is not necessary to prove that the receiver of a bribe is in the position to carry out the required favour for the purpose of conviction.
Any gratification received by a public officer is presumed corrupt, unless the contrary is proven.
Public officers under investigation may be required to furnish sworn statements on their properties.
Wealth disproportionate to income can be admitted as corroborative evidence.
Singapore citizens are liable for corrupt offences committed outside Singapore.
The Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act empowers the court to confiscate wealth which a convicted person cannot account for.

Last updated on 09 Apr 2009

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