Phuket takes the lead in fight against corruption

Phuket’s anti-corruption champions are making waves across Thailand. The Phuket Provincial Governance Committee and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce bagged the prestigious White Space Network Model Award for the fiscal year 2024, in recognition of their tireless work to combat corruption.

The award ceremony, hosted yesterday, September 11, at the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel in Nonthaburi, saw key Phuket representatives basking in the spotlight. Leading the charge were Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, Inspector-General of the Prime Minister’s Office; Phiraphi Ongcharoen, Vice Chairman of the Phuket Provincial Governance Committee; and Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce.

Ananya Rakmanee of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) emphasised the importance of community engagement.

“This starts with building trust and confidence, empowering people, and creating strong networks.”

Phuket’s success comes under the umbrella of the PACC Network Project to Surveillance Corruption, known as PACC Connect. According to officials, the province excelled in evaluations, scoring an impressive 80+ points, landing among 56 networks across Thailand deemed “excellent.”

With 91 networks across the nation recognised for their efforts, 59 received honorary plaques, including three “good” networks and 10 from the upper southern region—Surat Thani, Krabi, and Ranong also made the cut.

Ananya Rakmanee highlighted the PACC’s dedication to preventing corruption, stressing the need for public involvement and better access to justice. Through public forums and the Open House initiative, the PACC offers civil society a platform to tackle corruption and address local hardships, reported Phuket News.

“The PACC also plays a key role in monitoring, staying alert, and gathering information about corruption or cases of unfairness involving government officials.”

In related news, Pattaya City achieved a significant milestone by securing a score of 99.41 in the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). This assessment evaluates ethical practices and transparency among local administrative organisations across Thailand.