Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day

Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa attended today the Ministry of Interior's celebration to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day. He affirmed the Kingdom's big strides in fighting corruption as shown by an independent international agency. "Bahrain has ranked third at the Arab level, gaining two positions compared to last year," he said adding that this achievement is one of the dividends of the royal reform march aimed at boosting the principles of integrity and transparency. "Issuing the royal decree number 109 for 2011, amending decree 19 for 2001, which stipulates the re-structuring of the Interior Ministry, aimed to expand the authority of the Anti-Economic Crimes Directorate turning it into the General Directorate for Economic and Cyber Security and Anti-Corruption. The directorate takes up its role as the government's executive body in charge of tackling corruption crimes in cooperation with the government and civic organisations." Shaikh Rashid hailed the efforts made to combat all forms of crimes and corruption praising citizens' patriotism and keenness to preserve national achievements. "Corruption is one of the main factors hindering the achievement of major aspirations," he said wishing Bahrain security, stability and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. "Rampant corruption has become a source of worry for most of the Third World countries due to its negative impact on the economy and society. This phenomenon hampers progress as it generates a decaying society incapable of moving up to achieve aspirations." "The concepts and forms of corruption are numerous. Yet, the most common is financial corruption and illicit money-making either by exploiting one's profession or squandering public money. However, corruption, in its broader sense, involves administrative and moral corruption, ill-treatment of people, transgression of laws and regulations and encroachment on people's rights. All such practices amount to legal and unethical violations." The Interior Minister inaugurated an awareness exhibition which spotlighted the duties of the Anti-Corruption Directorate and defined corruption, its types and effects on the society. A seminar on the role of auditing authorities in fighting corruption was held with the participation of the Financial and Administration Audit Court, the Civil Service Bureau, the Tender Board, the UN Development Programme office, the Public Prosecution and the Anti-Corruption Directorate.