Thai Anti-Graft Project Aims To "Shut The Door To Corruption"

[webfact]

Anti-graft project aims to "shut the door to corruption"

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

The public and private sectors will next week sign an "integrity pact" aimed at eventually stamping out the country's chronic corruption problem.

The agreement will be signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva representing the public sector, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) from the private sector, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on November 10.

The signing will mark the start of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), Thosaporn Sirisumphand, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) said yesterday.

The 14th IACC, with the theme of "restoring trust: global action for transparency", takes place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on November 10 to 13. More than 1,500 participants from at least 135 countries are expected to attend, including heads of state, academics, and civil society, business, and government representatives.

Thosaporn yesterday said the pact was jointly prepared by the OPDC, the TCC, and the NACC. The agreement calls for future bidding for state projects to be implemented transparently and honestly. The public sector will agree not to demand bribes from bidding companies; and the private sector will agree not to offer bribes to boost their chances of winning a deal. Future bidding will be examined by a third party to ensure transparency.

The OPDC's idea for an integrity pact, which promotes the roles of the private sector and civil society in the fight against corruption, was endorsed by Cabinet on August 31, according to Thosaporn.

He said the project would be implemented in two phases. In the first, between November 11 and December 4, each government ministry would select one department with a high risk of irregularities to come into the project. Private companies would also be invited to take part.

Also, laws and regulations will be amended to increase transparency in the state procurement process, incentives offered to participating businesses, and mechanisms set up - such as the introduction of a public scrutiny and independent assessor system and "certificate of corruption free".

In the second phase, expected early in 2012, all state agencies and private companies involved in the procurement process will be covered. Businesses will be required to publicly disclose details about any procurement deals they win.

"It's time for companies and the private sector to join this project. They should no longer commit sins or damage the country by paying bribes. This project is a show of social responsibility and I hope it will shut the door to corruption. I don't know if it will be successful 100 per cent, but at least we are creating a network of people who do good deeds," he said.

Kobkarn Wattanawarangkura, deputy secretary-general of the TCC, yesterday expressed support for the anti-graft project, saying he expected it to help reduce corruption to an extent.

"This is a good beginning and it will lead to an expansion in the future. Most corruption cases involve procurement bidding by state agencies. I think this project will help reduce corruption somewhat. Both the public and private sectors want transparency and the private sector hopes corruption suppression will be a national agenda," she said.

Kobkarn said such a move against a chronic problem can expect obstacles. However, she pointed to eventual success in Hong Kong and South Korea, where corruption had been a serious problem in the past.

-- The Nation 2010-11-04

[jonclark]

" Also, laws and regulations will be amended to increase transparency in the state procurement process, incentives offered to participating businesses, and mechanisms set up - such as the introduction of a public scrutiny and independent assessor system and "certificate of corruption free...... which can be provided free of charge for a small under the table donation

[siampolee]

All very well but this move is likely to cripple , '' the white envelope industry .''

What about the coopers industry ( barrel makers in case you're not aware of the term coopers), that industry for the manufacturing of barrels for the storage of pork in bulk will indeed also go to the wall.

Indeed this move could have frightening repercussions upon the Thai economy in the long term.

Edited November 4, 2010 by siampolee

[slapout]

Probably a good idea. Might work if those guilty of these transgressions were put in the monkey house and given instruction on the rules (school) with subsequent offenses penalized more on a progressive scale. Then sign the documents prior to sentence reduction, parole, etc.

[travelerjim]

Is this for REAL?

:lol: :lol:

TIT!

[kuffki]

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

[caf]

There is too big a gap between the very rich and the very poor for any anti-corruption ideas to work. I applaud the attempt but there are too many empty words. Not in our lifetimes or those of our children. It's a way of life here and in many far eastern countries.

How long has the anti corruption agency been established and has it tackled the really big issues and the guys behind it?

And corruption won't be stamped out or even reduced while wages are low or perceived to be low. No mention of that in Webfact's report but this economic reality is a key point. Some corruption is like a tip in a restaurant; it is an accepted way of paying a living wage.

Police on 8000

[jayjay0]

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

You make it sound like a daily occurrence. I have lived here for five years and not run into that problem once. That is not to say it isn't out there. But to continually put your self in situations where it is happening is a matter of choice. I my self choose not to.

Once again we start some thing good. Let us hope it sticks around this time.

[geriatrickid]

No chance the regulatons being applied by the EU, USA, Canada, and Australia have an influence on this? Bribery is verbotten in many foreign jurisdictions and some of the world's big markets are getting annoyed by the Chinese and Japanese loosey goosey approach to the subject and they are reacting accordingly.

[Deez]

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

You make it sound like a daily occurrence. I have lived here for five years and not run into that problem once. That is not to say it isn't out there. But to continually put your self in situations where it is happening is a matter of choice. I my self choose not to.

Once again we start some thing good. Let us hope it sticks around this time.

Just because you havent come across it doesnt mean its not there. Surely you know this. Your "if I cant see it its not there reasoning" is very thai. Education is the most important tool to reduce/eliminate corruption.

[Thailand]

No chance the regulatons being applied by the EU, USA, Canada, and Australia have an influence on this? Bribery is verbotten in many foreign jurisdictions and some of the world's big markets are getting annoyed by the Chinese and Japanese loosey goosey approach to the subject and they are reacting accordingly.

You think there is no corruption in the countries you mentioned? Simply not as transparent as Asia.

And as for countries getting annoyed with China- something they will have to live with for a very long time now the US peso is reaching the point of collapse.

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes.

[craigt3365]

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

You make it sound like a daily occurrence. I have lived here for five years and not run into that problem once. That is not to say it isn't out there. But to continually put your self in situations where it is happening is a matter of choice. I my self choose not to.

Once again we start some thing good. Let us hope it sticks around this time.

It is a daily thing, and it's not a matter of choice. Have you never seen the road blocks? I have been stopped several times, all but one were for good reasons. The one was up in Issan where they just pulled me over for no reason other than passing a slower car. I was doing under 80kph at the time. Told him to buzz off, but he wouldn't give up, so offered 20 baht and he was happy. Seems they target scooters a lot...especially here in Pattaya.

I've also been in bars when they stopped by for their monthly stipend. I've actually seen it several times. One local restaurant puts it in the fuse box in the back near the kitchen. Cop walks in, says hello, walks back and gets his cash. If you run a very public business like these, you will encounter it all the time.

We just about got dinged at the land office. Wifey needed to transfer some land from her mother's name to hers. Official there said it was like 3000 Baht to get it done in a timely manner...I think because my wife's name is mine...they smelled a farang. Wife got pissed and her mother called up a friend who works in the main land office for the province. She got the paperwork done without having to pay. And that is Thai on Thai corruption.

[kuffki]

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

You make it sound like a daily occurrence. I have lived here for five years and not run into that problem once. That is not to say it isn't out there. But to continually put your self in situations where it is happening is a matter of choice. I my self choose not to.

Once again we start some thing good. Let us hope it sticks around this time.

If one chooses to live in the city and drive and do business or other things, there is no way to avoid it, go around it, hide from it or run from it. On the other hand if one chooses to live in remote village in Isaan and not go out of that village-then of course that one will not come across it.

Oh yeah, for people living in the city, it is daily occurrence and i have lived here for 7.5 out of which 7.5 have been in the city.

When they pull someone over when they wearing helmet, rest assured they will find something. If not the helmet, license, if not that, green book, if not that pink book and if all else fails, they will issue a fine for having a loud bike(seen it experienced it)

PS. There is no such a thing as pink book, but try telling that to a BIB who wants to be paid

And i hate to say it "we" have not started anything here but another useless exercise to appear to be doing something, yet doing nothing at all. Contracts have very little meaning in Thailand as is, this is just another option for some people to extort one way or another. Should someone sign this pack and be caught, it will be the matter of payment to get around it.

Perhaps if people involved were punished with heavy fines and/or jail possibly then things may start to change, but then again in this part of the world i highly doubt it.

One good point to start is to start paying appropriate wages, just take BIB for instance, they do not even get police bikes, they ride their own.

[Pib]

Wow, I never thought that solving corruption was as simple as everyone signing a pact. Awesome Thailand!!!!...Great Idea....and here the whole world has been trying for millenniums to solve corruption and the whole time the answer was so simple.

[GarryP]

The policeman who stopped my son yesterday at a road block must have got an early start on this. My son is new on the roads and it was his first stop. He took off his helmet, answered a couple of questions and was told to get on his way. No demand for payment at all. He said the policeman was polite and friendly, but some of his colleagues were not being as nice to some of the other riders being pulled over.

[Robby nz]

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes

So lets start in our lifetime.

At least now we have someone who wants to try.

Unlike previous Govts who led the way in corruption.

[ianf]

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes

So lets start in our lifetime.

At least now we have someone who wants to try.

Unlike previous Govts who led the way in corruption.

This has come from Abhisit who has been courageous in the face of corruption from his allies. He is determined to wipe it out but I would say that he is swimming against the tide with corrupton so endemic to this society.

[chuang]

What a joke, commo Thailand

[Skywalker69]

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes

So lets start in our lifetime.

At least now we have someone who wants to try.

Unlike previous Govts who led the way in corruption.

You´r right, even the longest journey starts with a step.

[JetsetBkk]

"Thailand was seen as the second most corrupt country" [in Asia]:

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090408-198573/RP-no-longer-most-corrupt-in-ranking

[mrbojangles]

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes

So lets start in our lifetime.

At least now we have someone who wants to try.

Unlike previous Govts who led the way in corruption.

You´r right, even the longest journey starts with a step.

Here, here :jap:

[bangon04]

The public and private sectors will next week sign an "integrity pact" aimed at eventually stamping out the country's chronic corruption problem.

The agreement will be signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva representing the public sector, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) from the private sector, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on November 10.

Oh well, that's sorted then.

Let's all find another problem and move on to fix that too.

Amusing Thailand

[bangon04]

The public and private sectors will next week sign an "integrity pact" aimed at eventually stamping out the country's chronic corruption problem.

The agreement will be signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva representing the public sector, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) from the private sector, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on November 10.

Oh well, that's sorted then.

Let's all find another problem and move on to fix that too.

Amusing Thailand

[hardy1943]

Is this for REAL?

:lol: :lol:

TIT!

Have to agree.Is this an April fools joke?

[pianoman]

Ya, Right..... What a Joke.... Does anyone either in Thailand or outside of Thailand beleive that this is anything more than just a waste of Time and Paper???

Pianoman

[whybother]

Everyone complains about nothing being done to fix the corruption problem in Thailand.

Something is being done, so stop complaining.

Will it do anything to fix the corruption problem?

Who knows? Probably not, the way everyone is laughing at it.

Give it a chance. At least they are doing something.

[xitroen]

Are sure you live in Thailand ?

I own a bar in Pattaya

The police come to fuc_k me as much as they can... So stop to be so blind...

Is this one of those crack downs on the crack downs? or the hub of hub things?

So the nest time BIN pulls me over and starts to extort me i will ask him to produce his signed copy of integrity pack?

or when i go to get something done and they start to click fingers under the table i will again ask them to show me the pack?

Man, people must be really really bored in the government

You make it sound like a daily occurrence. I have lived here for five years and not run into that problem once. That is not to say it isn't out there. But to continually put your self in situations where it is happening is a matter of choice. I my self choose not to.

Once again we start some thing good. Let us hope it sticks around this time.

[newtronbom]

And as for Thailand rooting out corruption- not in many lifetimes

So lets start in our lifetime.

At least now we have someone who wants to try.

Unlike previous Govts who led the way in corruption.

You´r right, even the longest journey starts with a step.

I agree with both you and ianfs' thoughts. At least a step is being taken by our Prime Minister, who I believe is an honest man, who really wants to improve this country. What he needs is all our support, as many of his corrupt ministers certainly do not give him any support at all. Simply rubbishing the mans efforts, will not do anything to change this or the many other problems, not only in Thailand. The man is strong, but his team is weak and/or corrupt. Without this first step and all of our backing and support, his efforts will for sure come to nothing. Instead of whinging and slinging shit, try to explain and convince all your friends and neighbors, that this first step in the right direction is only the beginning and without it, nothing will ever change for the better. We may not see it, but better that the future does, than does not...........

Edited November 4, 2010 by newtronbom

[Pi Sek]

Everyone complains about nothing being done to fix the corruption problem in Thailand.

Something is being done, so stop complaining.

Will it do anything to fix the corruption problem?

Who knows? Probably not, the way everyone is laughing at it.

Give it a chance. At least they are doing something.

My thoughts exactly.

First step to a solution is an idea. Then comes the strategy, followed by implementation. Then the fine tuning.

What we have here is the first 3 steps. The fine tuning might well take generations, but you can say the same about nearly everything - e.g. democracy is full of holes and it's been around for over 2400 years.

[ricardofel]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...VERY FUNNY