Corruption in Thailand likened to a disease: And it needs to be cured!

[ChrisY1]

Most corruption is in purchasing...sure..there's a bit of money changing hands via the cops etc.....but the big money numbers come from purchasing.....the billions spent on government purchases over the past decade alone must have enriched many with handsome bank accounts...or "gifts".

 

[bkk6060]

12 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Corruption is inspirational to Thai's, it inspires them to join the police force, it inspires them to join the army, inspires then to become public officials and politicians, 

One of the most uninformed, untrue small box posts.

Most Thais in those government positions did not sign up for it nor are they involved in corruption.

Sadly, you certainly seem to know very little about this place....

[Date Masamune]

14 hours ago, Pilotman said:

My Thai wife paid the police to investigate a motorbike accident involving one of our family, They would not move on it until she paid them 5,000 Baht.  When I pointed out how wrong and corrupt this was, she just shrugged and said to me that is how the system works.  She was not in the slightest bit bothered by it, and this from a lady who spent 19 years in the UK. If people like her accept it as normal, nothing will ever change. 

The problem with corruption is people who can't afford to pay get nothing anyway but I have paid at least half my lifetime earnings in taxes and fees to Uncle Sam and gotten little or nothing maybe free use of roads in return. Honestly I would rather pay as I go if I needed something for the government.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Date Masamune said:

The problem with corruption is people who can't afford to pay get nothing anyway but I have paid at least half my lifetime earnings in taxes and fees to Uncle Sam and gotten little or nothing maybe free use of roads in return. Honestly I would rather pay as I go if I needed something for the government.

You make a valid point.  The police in the UK have all but stopped investigating most 'low level' crime, due to lack of resources. If you could pay them to do it, maybe you would. It's not all black and white I guess. As for taxes, same for me and the UK.  Like many millions of others, I have paid many many thousands of pounds into the tax system, all to see it largely wasted by an inefficient civil service and idiot politicians, who can't see past their own noses. Now, to top it all,  I have an Embassy here who doesn't give a monkeys about its own citizens. Bit off topic I know. 

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Corruption is like a severe infestation of termites in a pine house. There is no cure other than...

[Proboscis]

15 hours ago, Pilotman said:

My Thai wife paid the police to investigate a motorbike accident involving one of our family, They would not move on it until she paid them 5,000 Baht.  When I pointed out how wrong and corrupt this was, she just shrugged and said to me that is how the system works.  She was not in the slightest bit bothered by it, and this from a lady who spent 19 years in the UK. If people like her accept it as normal, nothing will ever change. 

Always remember that corruption operates in the same way like the rot in the fish - the fish rots from the head. Your wife does what she has to do because she has no choice if she wants to have the motorbike accident investigated.

[Ossy]

Corruption in Thailand likened to a disease: And it needs to be cured!

 

 

It looks like the NACC have read Huw Jones book, Thailand's Corruption Time Bomb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KBX3JXM

About six months too late, methinks, and between now and the election we're going to see corruption at its ugliest, when ego-maniacs' political futures are at stake. But, as Huw Jones asks, will the Thia people at large be strong enough to summon up the courage and the muscle to rise against the filth that's been controlling their lives for the last hundred years? Or will their mae pen rai approach rule the day? At least this question is what the NACC are asking, for once, with this poster campaign. We'll see.

Edited January 27, 2019 by Ossy
clarity

[Wiggy]

Blah, blah, blah. I’ve been reading about this for 25+ years. Nothing will change as those that can change it are the ones benefiting from it. So why would they outlaw something that pays so well?

[mickymouse1]

Should be "ERADICATED " not cured ????

[longklong]

In other countries corruption is usually done with a smile. Thailand is probably the only country where it is done with a frown!

Edited January 27, 2019 by longklong
wrong typing

[MaxYakov]

16 hours ago, Lee man said:

Corruption in Thailand is a way of life,it will never be stopped...Its how the country works..

"And it has suggested that the cure is to take action each and every time the "symptoms" are spotted."

 

That's right. Treat the symptoms and not the root cause.

[baumedutigre]

Same Hua Hin officer.... Porshe Cayenne and gold everywhere 5555.... But never see something change since many years..

Edited January 27, 2019 by baumedutigre

[robblok]

25 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

Blah, blah, blah. I’ve been reading about this for 25+ years. Nothing will change as those that can change it are the ones benefiting from it. So why would they outlaw something that pays so well?

That is the whole problem, the army and politicians don't WANT it to change. They all benefit from it and that is why there is so much violence... being in government is so profitable that they will stage coups, or bomb opponents or shoot them whatever to get in power. Sometimes some token people get caught and that is it.

 

Still better that some get caught then none at all.

[longklong]

 One of my friend's little dog was killed by his neighbour's big hound. He filed both a civil and criminal case. Had to attend court four times but his neighbour didn't appear even once. Every time his lawyer said that his client was travelling abroad. My friend could see each time that his neighbour was at home! He complained to the judge who said: "How do I know who is telling the truth." My friend wanted to say that it could be easily verified by asking for the fellow's passport and checking if there was any exit stamp. But when he saw the lawyer grinning broadly, my friend wisely decided to drop the case! 

[MrMo]

Thailand does pretty well in various global league tables.   It manages to kill off more of its citizen per 100,000 on the roads than any other, has just 1% of its population own a bigger proportion of the national wealth than any other.   But in the Corruption League, it is actually struggling.   No better than mid-table though I don't see Thailand ever being in danger of slipping into the relegation zone.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

16 hours ago, pornprong said:

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has likened corruption in Thailand to a disease. 

 

but,

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission did nothing about Prawit's watches. 

 

therefore,

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is corrupt. 

 

But in regard to their announcement, it's at least shows the truth to the saying, "a broken watch is correct at least twice a day."

 

They are a broken watch, but in this instance, what they're saying is also true..

 

[DPKANKAN]

17 hours ago, CGW said:

This is the same commission that very recently cleared the "watch man" of any wrong doing and are currently being investigated ????

Very reassuring ????

Did they not last year carry out a poll about corruption? The consensus was most people did not worry about it!!!......... as long as they got their share of the cash!!????????????????

[wvavin]

The corruption in Thailand is inherent but first the NACC must cure itself first!

[robblok]

20 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

But in regard to their announcement, it's at least shows the truth to the saying, "a broken watch is correct at least twice a day."

 

They are a broken watch, but in this instance, what they're saying is also true..

 

They are right.. and they have caught some corrupt people. The only problem is that they are a bit bias. They don't fabricate evidence, the people who they catch are corrupt. Problem is that they don't investigate those on their "side" good. 

 

They would have a lot more credibility if they were far more even handed. 

[onlycw]

Take a border. The security fence has holes. Rampant smuggling occurs under the eyes of an Army sentry. A few hundred yards away, the Customs Office has staff who - if they ever crossed over - will have  s e e n  the smuggling. 

 

Waiting motorcycle drrivers will move the goods in a steady stream some ants might learn a bit from, it's that efficient.

 

 

[radjag]

The only country in Asia (indeed, arguably the only country in the entire world) which managed to get corruption under control is Singapore. Primarily through the sheer willpower of LKY, a unique geographic and ideological situation. Even Singapore has its own problems and critics. There is an under-belly of drugs and vice which has survived despite the continued application of the death penalty. Human nature I guess.

 

As best I can judge, almost every country in the world is becoming more and more lawless and corrupt. The corrupt rich and powerful and their cronies get immensely richer and the number of very poor increases and they get even poorer. The gap increases and society everywhere seems to encourage it. The media constantly celebrates the excessive and lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous. Thailand is probably no better or worse in this regard, just that the petty corruption has been endemic for decades, if not centuries.

[Krataiboy]

 

The treatment is simple: Speak up each and every time corruption rears its head. 

 

And that "treatment" is unbelievably simplistic and won't for reasons all too apparent to anyone who has lived here for more than a week or two.

 

And let's be honest. Corruption isn't confined to Thailand or noticeably any worse here than lots of other countries. It's just clumsier and more obvious.

Edited January 27, 2019 by Krataiboy

[Moonlover]

15 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Corruption is inspirational to Thai's, it inspires them to join the police force, it inspires them to join the army, inspires then to become public officials and politicians, the spoils are endless, without this inspiration, where do they go? I can't see any change in the middle to far distant future. 

I know a lady who sold her house in order to fund her son's acceptance in the army. And not even as an officer, just an enlisted man. That's an indication of the level of corruption and the value that Thais place at getting such a position.

 

She did not and still does not regard it as corruption. To her it was an investment.

[ebean001]

In USA they spend billions to get a person elected for a job that pays $400,000/yr for 4 years.

[soalbundy]

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men for they may act on their dreams with open eyes to make them possible.

T.E. Lawrence, 'The seven pillars of wisdom"

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, Lungstib said:

Corruption is not only endemic in the people but its in the system. When you owe a superior for your promotion there will likely come a time when it needs paying back. The lack of social equality is the start of all this corruption, you must never criticise those above you, hence you can not report them. 

"The lack of social equality is the start of all this corruption..."

 

I suggest it's not that simple:

 

- Yes Thailand has an enormous / gross gap in incomes and opportunities, etc.

 

- Yes there are folks who engage in corruption to survive, but that still means it's corruption, unfortunate.

 

- And there are many many poor folks with basically zero resources and zero opportunity who are as honest as the day is long.

 

- And there's a big sector of society, have no resources / have big resources who are simply greedy and have no hesitation whatever to engage in corruption. And often no hesitation to display their obviously illegally gained wealth.

 

 

 

 

[soalbundy]

4 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

 

The treatment is simple: Speak up each and every time corruption rears its head. 

 

And that "treatment" is unbelievably simplistic and won't for reasons all too apparent to anyone who has lived here for more than a week or two.

 

And let's be honest. Corruption isn't confined to Thailand or noticeably any worse here than lots of other countries. It's just clumsier and more obvious.

Here it has a certain innocent amorality about it at street level, higher up it is dangerously immoral and unassailable, those who would rid Thailand of corruption are tightly wound into the net of lies and deceit and will do all they can to keep the status quo. Woe to those who show courage and draw a sword to kill the dragon. 

[Zack61]

A huge cancer to which the NACC has been a major contributor. Terminal.

[meinphuket]

Another window dressing report with a conclusion that will soon be hi-jacked by the junta as only being achievable if we elect the darth vader in March.

[FunnyFarm]

Every government in this world is corrupt to some extent. Most western nations have super corrupt governments, but the corruption is hidden or disguised more efficiently to most people