ACC survey: 67% of people lack confidence in state’s aptitude to solve problems

The survey conducted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found 67 percent of the Maldivian people lack confidence in state’s aptitude to solve problems facing the country.

The 2023 national corruption perception survey was released by the ACC on Thursday, in a ceremony to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.

The results were based on computer assisted telephone interviews with 722 people – 51 percent of them males and 49 percent of them females.

18 percent of them were from northern Maldives, 17 percent from central atolls, 22 percent from southern atolls, and 43 percent from the Greater Male’ Region.

The general perceptions of respondents on development challenges show that 56 percent perceived corruption to be the main problem facing the Maldives, followed by drug and drug trafficking at 33 percent, and unemployment at 27 percent.

A staggering 64 percent of the respondents believed that overall corruption in the Maldives has increased, and 28 percent believed that level of corruption remained the same over the past three years.

The majority of this perception came from individuals at the age group 25 to 34 years.

The perception of corruption was highest for the Parliament and state-owned enterprises - at 75 percent.

As for the extent to which corruption has improved or worsened, over 50 percent of the sample population believed that corruption in the Maldives has worsened compared to the conditions that were of three years ago.

It was believed to have worsened at the Parliament with 67 percent, followed by government ministries and departments, SOEs, courts or tribunals, and local councils each at 61 percent.

The study explored the perceived confidence level of the respondents regarding the State’s ability to solve problems facing the Maldives. The results showed that 67 percent of the total respondents were not confident of the State’s aptitude to solve the problems.

When inquired about the effectiveness of ACC in combating corruption, 47 percent believed that nothing has been done by ACC, while 48 percent believed the commission was successful in combating corruption over the past years.

• Perceived factors contributing to corruption:
• Lack of integrity and personal values
• Institutional ineffectiveness
• Loopholes in policies, rules and procedures
• Weakness in legal system

Perceived frequent corrupt practices among elected representatives and politicians:

• Influencing the career advancement of public servants on the basis of patronage instead of merit
• Influencing the award of contracts to companies or individuals close to them
• Taking bribes or gifts to influence public contracts
• Using public funds for property for personal or family gains

Perceived frequent corrupt practices among public officials or civil servants:

• Prioritizing personal connections in providing public services
• Undue influence in hiring, firing, and promoting of public servants
• Undue influence in the award of government contracts

Perceived frequent corrupt practices among law enforcement and judiciary:

• Discrepancies in prosecuting high-profile criminal suspects versus petty criminals
• Use of discretionary powers to protect the accused
• Exertion of substantial pressure to withhold prosecution
• Taking bribes or gifts to influence the passing of judgements and verdicts

Perceived frequent corrupt practices among statutory bodies:

• Undue influence in hiring, firing and promotions of employees
• Using public resources for personal gains

Perceived frequent corrupt practices among SOEs:

• Undue influence in hiring, firing and promotions of employees
• Taking bribes or gifts to influence the award of contracts

More than 70 percent the respondents considered the Parliament, SOEs and government ministries and departments to be the three major addressees that continue to perpetuate corruption in the Maldives.

The most frequent corruption acts witnessed or were aware of by the respondents were:

• Acceptance of money or gifts to vote for a particular candidate or political party (65 percent)
• Use of personal connections or favors to expedite a public service (58 percent)
• Use of personal connections or bribes to influence court or tribunal decisions (40 percent)
• Use of personal connections or favors to enroll or expedite a service in public school or university (40 percent)
• Offering money or gifts to win a project or a contract (40 percent)