PM says fight against corruption to remain a top priority
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised improved anti-corruption measures, saying the fight against graft will remain on the agenda as Thailand’s level of transparency improves. He was speaking via video conference to mark International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday. The PM says all sectors and organisations should be thanked for working to tackle corruption and has called on Thai nationals to put society’s welfare above their own personal interests.
Meanwhile, the president of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, says over 1.3 million people from the public and civil sectors participated in this year’s Integrity and Transparency Assessment, an increase of 200,000. Over 8,000 government units scored an average of 67.90, a small increase on last year’s score of 66.73. However, while central government units surpassed the target of 85, provincial and local administrations came in below target.
Watcharapol says transparency is one of the main factors in determining a country’s progress against graft, adding that, coupled with public participation, it is key to ending corruption. Watcharapol was giving a lecture at the NACC’s headquarters in the central province of Nonthaburi, where he revealed plans for a “toolbox” to facilitate better cooperation and knowledge-sharing across sectors in the fight against corruption.
“The civil sector and whistle blowers played a more important role in fighting against corruption by alerting authorities to graft cases.”
The Bangkok Post reports that there were over 1,900 fewer corruption complaints to the NACC this year, compared to 2019.
Meanwhile, in responding to a media question about whether the NACC could handle a complaint against the PM in the matter of his army residence, Watcharapol says that while the commission would be obliged to accept the complaint, it would also be duty-bound to reject it if the court had already ruled on the matter. Last week, the Constitutional Court acquitted the PM, allowing him to remain at his military residence.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
