Corrupt state officials ‘face tough action’

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha would not tolerate “irregularities” by any state officials and those involved would be punished without exception, Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

 

The government has clearly announced its policy of suppressing corruption among bureaucrats and public officials, the spokesman said.

 

“Any state official found to be involved, regardless of their seniority, will be punished strictly, without exception,” Sansern quoted the prime minister as saying. “Also, those who neglect irregularities by their subordinates will face disciplinary action.”

 

The premier has instructed all government agencies to prevent “irregularities” such as those that occurred in the Social Development and Human Security Ministry from happening again, according to the spokesman. He added that anyone learning about dishonest acts involving state officials can report them to the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

The PM’s remarks came amid investigation into alleged embezzlement of funds for the poor at welfare centres in many provinces.

Meanwhile, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Narong Khongkham, has said he is ready to be subjected to a fresh probe into the alleged embezzlement.

 

On Friday, Prayut signed an order to transfer two top officials at the ministry – Narong and his permanent secretary, Puttipat Lertchaowasit – to the PM’s Office to pave the way for a fresh investigation into the case.

 

The Public Sector Anti Corruption Commission last week inspected some welfare centres upcountry and learned about irregularities in payments to the poor.

 

The PM’s order noted that the Auditor-General’s Office had informed the ministry that these irregularities might have something to do with some senior officials at the ministry.

 

The order said the ministry had set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the allegations, but its findings were not complete. A new fact-finding team would be set up to ensure fair treatment. 

 

Prayut, using his powers under the Administration Act, signed an order to transfer the two officials to the PM’s Office, where they will perform their duties under the supervision of the deputy PM in charge of supervising the ministry.

 

A source at the ministry said the transfer of the two officials was aimed at enabling the new committee to proceed with its probe.

 

However, it did not mean that the two had committed any wrongdoings.

 

Narong said he has acknowledged the premier’s order, and insisted that he had not been dismissed from his post. The transfer was just to pave the way for the probe, and he was ready for that, he said.

 

‘Good news’

 

In a related development, the prime minister has expressed satisfaction over Thailand’s improvement in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) prepared by Transparency International, government spokesman Sansern said yesterday.

 

Thailand’s 2017 CPI score is 37, two points better than a year earlier. And the country is ranked 96th out of 180 countries, up from the 101st a year earlier.

 

Prayut described this improvement in the CPI score as “good news” and noted that the country has fared “generally better” over the past three to four years, during which this post-coup government has been in power, according to the spokesman.

 

However, he said the government admits there is some room for improvement in certain areas regarding the country’s corruption problem.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30339623

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-25

Friends exempt!

8 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha would not tolerate “irregularities” by any state officials and those involved would be punished without exception...

 

This is another 'hot air', meaningless statement from the PM.

 

As long as Prawit remains Defense Minister and isn't held accountable for his ostentatious display of wealth (the watches), then the PM and his entire government have no credibility on this issue.

 

And BTW, if I went to one of my friends and said "can I borrow a few of your expensive watches to wear for a few months?", the reply would be words in the effect of "what did you do, cut off your nads? Are you a chick? Get the hell outta here!".

 

Perhaps AFTER the watches and Prawit have been dealt with will you have some credibility.

 

We will be watching you, now is the time for action.

Biggest problem is we only see what we want to see.

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by colinneil

47 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

“Any state official found to be involved, regardless of their seniority, will be punished strictly, without exception,”

hypocritical lying

"also those that neglect irregularities by their subordinates"... 

Headline correction. 

Selective corrupt officials face tough action. 

I can almost time my proverbial watch to the repetitiveness of this proclamation of

" we will come down hard on rouge officials " this kind of statement is a staple of

every high ranking official to appease the masses.... 

 

He really know how to make people laugh.

Considering just how many departments exist in Thai govt and the extent of the corruption in every one of them this would mean tens of thousands facing the extreme punishment of dismissal or inactive positions. Pitiful.

56 minutes ago, colinneil said:

We will be watching you, now is the time for action.

Biggest problem is we only see what we want to see.

Yes "time" for action - you are now on "watch"

13 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Considering just how many departments exist in Thai govt and the extent of the corruption in every one of them this would mean tens of thousands facing the extreme punishment of dismissal or inactive positions. Pitiful.

start at the top 

25 minutes ago, ezzra said:

we will come down hard on rouge officials

Only red shirts?

Inactive post on half salary for a month b**ch.

Meanwhile his boys are running rampant and dripping in jewels 

There will be an audit on Him and his cronies to determine how they became so wealthy!

Incredulous, .....

Edited February 25, 20188 yr by merlin2002

Of course, his comments don't apply to his Ace #1 buddy and Deputy P.M., the Watchman.   He's exempt. 

 

I know where you can make a really good start ! oh no better to write another song to make the people happy and take their minds off corruption

 

4 hours ago, colinneil said:

We will be watching you, now is the time for action.

Biggest problem is we only see what we want to see.

Isn't there enough 'watching' of the other kind going on already?  I gotta figure out what a 'tough inactive post' may be.

Edited February 25, 20188 yr by Lupatria

More utter drivel from "Little p and his mates" who unless you missed it are actually at the top of the corrupt pile!

3 hours ago, Lungstib said:

Considering just how many departments exist in Thai govt and the extent of the corruption in every one of them this would mean tens of thousands facing the extreme punishment of dismissal or inactive positions. Pitiful.

Best to sack the lot and start again...........wiping out corruption is possible, as it was done in Singapore which was once rife with corruption.

 

But no chance with this lot in power; meaningless words, no action and croneyism prevail. 

Yes, it is also time to make him the untouchable touchable to look into any and everything in his and his family and relatives. BS rhetoric from one who hides behind his self forged shield. No Saint by all means. 

Business as usual then.

 

 

Edited February 25, 20188 yr by stanleycoin

Golly !!  you mean like a severe inactive post as  opposed to a normally inactive  post?

This was shouted loudly when they first took power.

As far as I can see, they have done <deleted> and it's probably worse now.

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

" we will come down hard on rouge officials "

I assume you mean that they are aligned with the Redshirts?

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha would not tolerate “irregularities” by any state officials and those involved would be punished without exception

Seems to me there is a big irregularity in the election system mate

Fantastic, a new beginning.

All government officials synchronise your watches.

Oops sorry !

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Friends exempt!

I think you are quite wrong.

Talked to a person working in the local amphoe.

They don't dare to do wrong any more, several staff have been fired.

Same at the police, even in the army.

It certainly is changing now, slowly but certainly.

Never happened before.