The fight against corruption is like a therapy to cure a disease. It should not just address the symptom but help build the immune system up to reduce the chances for officials to become corrupt.

That is why we should never be complacent with a certain number of corrupt officials we have unearthed in a year or the number of cases authorities has cracked.

What is encouraging from last year's crackdown figures is the fact that more than 180,000 leading officials at various levels have reported where their spouses and offspring are working. This is important progress, given the fact that thousands of officials have shifted their financial savings abroad by first emigrating their spouses or children abroad. The officials themselves then go abroad at a proper time.