Prayut declares zero-graft tolerance
PM admits challenge of changing habits
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged all stakeholders yesterday to make collective efforts in fighting graft and turning the country into a corruption-intolerant society.
In his speech marking International Anti-Corruption Day, Gen Prayut stressed that the campaign against graft and unscrupulous practices required concerted efforts and a culture of corruption intolerance needed to be cultivated.
International Anti-Corruption Day falls on Dec 9 and the government’s campaign is held under the theme “Zero Tolerance”.
Gen Prayut said tackling corruption in Thailand was a challenge as corrupt practices took all shapes and forms — be it position buying, irregularities in procurement or exploiting legal loopholes for personal gain.
The government was doing all it could to bolster the fight against corruption, he said, adding that measures included amending laws and regulations, providing equal opportunities to reduce gaps and ensuring good governance.
Gen Prayut pointed out that state officials were instrumental to whether the fight against corruption would succeed. According to the premier, as long as authorities concerned put the people’s interests first, the rest would be easy.
He said the government also stepped up efforts in making sure accountability and transparency in budget spending and local administrative bodies were instructed to implement projects based on community needs.
The transparency index was improving thanks to the government’s campaign against graft in recent years, he said, urging the public to keep an eye on the implementation of the 20-year national strategy and master plans.
The national strategy committee chaired by Gen Prayut recently approved drafts of 23 master plans to be used as action plans for the 20-year national strategy (2018-37).
The government wants the country to score above 50 out of 100 points in 2021, up from 37 in 2017 in the Corruption Perceptions Index. Thailand was 96th out of 178 nations.
Gen Prayut also called on every sector to adhere to the principle of the sufficiency economy, noting that several operators of digital televisions were struggling with financial burdens because they failed to adopt the philosophy.
After delivering the speech, Gen Prayut led the participants to announce their intention to uphold transparency and place the national interest before their own.
Mana Nimitmongkol, secretary-general of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), said his organisation also joined in the campaign as part of civil society.
His agency and network are ready to work with the government to fight corruption. However, he noticed both progress and stagnation in the anti-corruption movement in Thailand.
Complaints about corruption increased over the year, he said, looking at it as a sign people no longer tolerate corruption, despite it still being rife.
Mr Mana also voiced concern over the lack of progress in high-profile graft cases over undeclared assets.