"Consultation Fee" In Brunei Darussalam

Many say, corruption is a culture brought by the Chinese... I have always disagreed with this statement... but after thinking about it, maybe it's true. Afterall the Chinese culture is over hundreds of centuries old, hence that's why because of wheeling and dealing in the daily lives of the people then, it flourished and became part of the culture/society (survival of the fittest?).

But if the locals are so against corruption, they why do they actively solicite it? Why do approval of buildings has to go to several departments before it is apporved? Several buildings, stretch from Belait to Jerudong to Muara are not approved just because the contractors refused to give corruption. Those who are rich can afford to let the buildings rot, but others who have to depend on the bank, rather pay several thousands dollars to settle the matter. One contractor say that corruption in Brunei isnt that big as compared to Indonesia or Malaysia, but the fact that it exist seemed to be part of the Brunei culture (note that Bruneians have a lot of hutangs, hence the more hutangs they have, the more they need to ask for bribe, esp those working in government sectors).

One would have assumed that the contracts in the leading oil and gas company in the country wouldnt have this problem. This is not true at all. One always hear that if that particular person is very high up in the management post, then his wife or his sibilings or other in-laws companies start to mashrooming here and there and these companies will be the ones favoured and who will win the contracts. As one "insider" said - the dealings in this sector is "very very dark, and very very ugly"...

No country is free of corruption, and nothing can stop it. as long as there's power and authority, there will always be corruption. Sad for some, good for the rich, (opportunity to enrich themselves and their relatives - more mercs, bemears, mansions, expensive holidays).... laws are not severe, it is lax and unenforcable... made worse with a slow court system the country currently has...