Envoy highlights Qatari-Malaysian vision to combat global corruption

Qatar and Malaysia have a shared vision to achieve the objectives of the United Nations (UN) campaign against corruption and supporting global partnership efforts, Qatar’s ambassador to Malaysia, Fahad bin Mohamed Kafoud has said.  “This common vision and collaboration between Qatar and Malaysia covers many other international and regional issues. Both countries look forward to furthering joint action and enhancing co-operation and bilateral relations,” the ambassador said in a report carried by Malaysia’s Bernama news agency. Ambassador Fahad bin Mohamed Kafoud praised the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Malaysia on December 5, and his attendance at the third Sheikh Tamim International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony in Putrajaya city in Malaysia. The ambassador said it was a recognition of the role of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed to take the lead in the international campaign against corruption and crime, so that Malaysia could be an example for other countries to follow.An anti-corruption stainless steel monument was also launched by the two leaders at Dataran Putra in Putrajaya. It was a gift from the Qatari government to Malaysia as a special acknowledgement of its strength shown in fighting corruption.Since 2016, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Award has been organised by the Centre of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption in Doha, in co-operation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.The ambassador said Malaysia was the third country chosen to host the prestigious event after Austria in 2016 and Switzerland last year and “This shows an appreciation of the role of the Malaysian people in combating corruption, and their realisation that this is the shortest way to achieve sustainable development.” Ambassador Fahad bin Mohamed Kafoud added that it is an annual event to recognise and appreciate contribution to the global campaign against corruption, as well as to enhance Qatar’s role in the global partnership and its efforts in fighting corruption aimed at achieving sustainable development.The Sheikh Tamim Award is considered a global initiative to promote awareness on the rule of law and motivate governments, academic institutions, media and civil societies to adopt the principles of the convention against corruption adopted by the UN General Assembly on Oct 31, 2003, and enforced in 2005 with 186 signatories. The award to mark International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 highlighted exemplary and noteworthy actions and good practices on a global scale to recognise, promote, collect and disseminate anti-corruption successful models globally.The award aims to raise awareness, provide support and solidarity for the fight against corruption as well as encourage and inspire similar and new initiatives towards a corruption-free society.Ambassador Fahad bin Mohamed Kafoud sated that this award is worth US$1mn distributed equally to the winners of the personals and institutions, as well as the prize.