BANGKOK, Jan 14 – The government initiates “honesty pledges” in an attempt to stop corruption in government procurement projects and will start implementing them in the large scale bus and mass transit train projects.
Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngam said the government committee monitoring corruption suppression chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resolved today that the so-called honesty, merit or virtue agreements would be attached to major government procurement contracts.
Under such agreements, government representatives, operators and outsiders certified by the committee will monitor project implementation and stop it when seeing any corruption.
The committee resolved to initially apply this to the procurement of natural gas-fueled buses and the Blue Line electrified railway that are major government projects. A number of persons have been selected to monitor the implementation. The result and the resolution will be proposed to the cabinet next week, he said.
If the monitoring committee finds corruption, it must report that to the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Ministry of Justice and the Royal Thai Police Office for further investigation and prosecution. The accused can defend themselves with information during the process as the prime minister stressed that investigation into corruption must be done by law and with transparency and fairness, Mr Wisanu said.
He added that the committee monitoring corruption suppression would have the Damrongtham centres open special channels to receive corruption complaints in particular and they were ready to receive complaints from any foreigners who consider themselves as being unfairly treated or extorted.
