BANGKOK, 23 August 2012 – The Anti-Corruption Network indicates that the Thai corruption problem has been worsening despite the government’s effort to tackle it.
Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Network Pramon Sutivong cited a recent survey from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), saying Thai businesses still have to pay around 25% of the value of their projects as bribes to the government. He thus questioned the sincerity of the government in tackling the corruption problem.
The Anti-Corruption Network has expressed worries over the government’s populist policies, such as the rice mortgaging scheme and water management projects, which are utilizing huge amounts of money.
UTCC has also released another survey, indicating that the confidence index in terms of corruption policies has dropped to 3.5 out of 10 points. Mr Promon said the government has failed to tackle the problem so far and he believed corruption activities will increase next year from the 340-billion-baht budget, prepared for the sustainable water management projects.
The network chairman stressed that if everyone thinks corruption is a national problem and not their personal problem, no one would fight to prevent it and eventually Thailand would have nothing left for the next generations.
To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Anti-Corruption Network, 42 member organizations of the network have agreed to set September 6th of every year as the Anti-Corruption Day. This year, a seminar will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, with the participation from former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and activist Mechai Viravaidya.
