I disagree with all three prongs of Ravin Ponniah's 'nuance-ed' approach to corruption. To throw in more metaphors, I would compare such a 'softly-softly' approach to killing hyenas with a razor blade.

On media power, Ponniah selected Singapore - an exception rather than the rule - when pointing out that Singapore has no free press but low corruption. The argument also ignores the importance of the 'trend' of improving governance in Thailand, while the trend in Malaysia is following a slippery slope down the abyss.

On the Anti-Corruption Agency, the writer completely ignores the more important argument that the ACA be placed directly under the parliament and above the prime minister, and rather chooses to focus on the issue of separating investigating and prosecuting powers.

On asset declarations, I enclose a list of news articles about what happened in Thailand recently, where outgoing and incoming ministers and spouses have to declare their wealth, Readers can make up their own minds about the effectiveness of 'public' asset declarations and a strong anti- corruption agency.

For background on the articles below please see Business as usual, people.

Jan 2003: Minister calls witness to defend himself against charges that he concealed assets.

Apr 2003: Incoming ministers declare their assets.

Nov 2003: Ministers declare wealth, wives very rich.

Aug 2003: Deputy transport minister loses his job and is banned from politics for five years after being found guilty of falsifying asset declaration

Sept 2003: Health minister found guilty of falsifying asset declaration, assets to be confiscated, loses cabinet position,

Jan 2004: Incoming ministers and wives declarations show they hold wealth in real estate

You will notice that these Thai ministers are not exactly paupers. Although many believe their assets are ill-gotten wealth (from a former era and then political families), the rule of law ensures they cannot be prosecuted unless there is evidence of wrongdoing or lying to the public.

Hopefully, readers won't turn to the argument that public wealth declaration by ministers will be too much of a drama that disturbs the peace and internal security of our country.