Bangkok governor vows to root out government corruption

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday revealed he is to introduce five new policies in an attempt to wipe out corruption in the capital.

The 56 year old City Hall leader announced the scheme at a press conference sitting alongside members of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT).

Chadchart acknowledged that Bangkok citizens do not fully trust City Hall in issues of transparency so declared what better way to win the people’s trust than by working with the ACT to route out impropriety.

The governor’s first initiative is to speed up the issuing of licences for residents wanting to build small houses. Chadchart declared this measure would stop bent officials from slowing down the process. It is widely known that some officials are open to speeding up the process if their hands are greased with cash.

The city chief also added that council officials will be prohibited from accepting gifts.

City Hall’s investment arm, Krungthep Thanakom, is to become a member of the Private Sector Collective Action against Corruption (CAC) and require its trading partners to be members as well.

Chadchart insists all Bangkok Metropolitan Administration-operated hospitals will have to agree to end all commissions on the purchases of medicinal products from pharmaceutical firms.

Furthermore, Chadchart added it is crucial that all City Hall officials acknowledged their part in stamping out grafts and sign the anti-corruption policy document.

If residents have problems or want to offer suggestions, they can do so on City Hall’s Traffy Fondue (TF) application. A new menu has been added to the app called “Krungthep Prongsai” (Transparent Bangkok) where people can give anonymous tip-offs on BMA wrongdoing or violations.

There was no announcement of when the initiative would be introduced.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post