Like it or not, corruption is the name of the game in Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 7 – Corruption is increasingly acceptable in Thai society with an alarming trend of people seeing it as a way of life and willing to ‘tag along’ for personal gain.

An Assumption University poll conducted Sept 1-6, found the number of Thais not objecting to corruption if it was with their partial advantages increased from 63.4 per cent in June to 65.8 per cent in August.

Only one-third – 34.2 per cent – of the 2,117 respondents insisted that corruption is unacceptable.

Assumption Poll director Noppadol Kannikar said the younger generation is most worrisome with 79.1 per cent of respondents under 20 and 76.5 of those aged 20-29 said state corruption is acceptable if it benefits themselves personally.

A similar attitude was reported by nearly two-thirds of the rest of the respondents -- 64.8 per cent of the 30-39 age group, 65.4 per cent of the 40-49 age group, and 59.9 for people above age 50.

Among career groups which embrace the same attitude, students represented the highest percentage at 70.6 followed by entrepreneurs at 66.2 per cent, private employees at 64.3 per cent, general wage earners and farmers at 61.9 per cent.

Lying? White lies only, or more? More than two-thirds, 68.3 per cent, approved lying for survival while slightly under one-third, 31.7 per cent, said they would not lie regardless.

In the public sector nearly 60 per cent of state officials described corruption as acceptable, and referred to benefits in terms of job promotion, transfer to a better location and profit.

They claimed that every government is corrupt and politically intervene in public administration. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-07

As much as I've experienced and unhappy with the corruption problem in Thailand, it becomes a normal way of life when more than 2/3 of people don't take it as a problem. Pathetic, though.

As much as I've experienced and unhappy with the corruption problem in Thailand, it becomes a normal way of life when more than 2/3 of people don't take it as a problem. Pathetic, though.

I would say 9/10 don't take it as problem.

A morally bankrupt country!

what a lump of crap and with that logic they could might as well just mention prostitution part of a game here and claim everyone are prostituting themself in a way

As much as I've experienced and unhappy with the corruption problem in Thailand, it becomes a normal way of life when more than 2/3 of people don't take it as a problem. Pathetic, though.

yup, 2/3 of people accept corruption as a way of life

The other third were paid to accept it as a way of life

It's not the corruption that I find unacceptable it is the ever increasing level of greed that goes along with it.

Money flows uphill here so the best people for the job rarely find themselves in the job they deserve. You have to look no farther than the PM.

The net result of that process is that ministries and policies are geared for skimming rather than benefitting either the people or the country.

If that's what the Thai people want, then I hope they will be happy lodged in one generation of progress behind much of the world. If they aspire to be better than Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam then they will need to up their game to stay in the race. If they hope to compete with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in Asean then a major overhaul is needed.

Reading this I finally understand why Yingluck and PT got most votes!

And the saddest part of it, is that it corruption is what enslaves the poor, who make up 80% of the population, so that most of them seem to be approving of something that is overwhelmingly to their detriment.

Reading this I finally understand why Yingluck and PT got most votes!

I think everyone else knew that already.

So if we accept that Thailand is a corrupt country and the holier than thou attitude is just for the benefit of those dreamy tourists in the promos .... not the sex tourists obviously who know better... then the next political campaigns should be demanding a fair share of the corruption cake for all Thais, not just the rich and well connected.

That would be populism, apparently..

From the poor to the rich corruption is rampant in Thailand...it's an accepted way of life. Thai's realize corruption is morally evil but they accept it as a necessary evil in Thailand....necessary from the standpoint of so people do it that others feel they must also. Sad state of mind....it could take generations to substantially change for the better.

Just another form of tipping

Tips acronym - To Insure Prompt Service

As much as I've experienced and unhappy with the corruption problem in Thailand, it becomes a normal way of life when more than 2/3 of people don't take it as a problem. Pathetic, though.

It's the way it is, and the natives think it great if a dude has taken dosh for doing nothing. They all want to do that soooooooooo ...................................

The survey suggests more than two thirds of Thai people think it is acceptable to lie .... so just one small thought.... I wonder what per centage of the 31.7 % that said they never lied were actually lying ?

A poll and a result Thailand should not want. But it is endemic, growing (obviously) as there are no enforcement personnel who can (or will do), anything about it. Som Num Na. Looking back over Thai history Thai's do not deserve half of what they have. If they took out the corruption issue they would be financially far stronger than Japan but they are simply happy to stay with the 'system' and no question. The word "buffaloes" comes to mind since that is how they refer to the stupid. Seems that covers at least 65% of the population according to the poll.

Money flows uphill here so the best people for the job rarely find themselves in the job they deserve. You have to look no farther than the PM.

The net result of that process is that ministries and policies are geared for skimming rather than benefitting either the people or the country.

If that's what the Thai people want, then I hope they will be happy lodged in one generation of progress behind much of the world. If they aspire to be better than Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam then they will need to up their game to stay in the race. If they hope to compete with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in Asean then a major overhaul is needed.

As it is said, in a Democracy the people get the government they deserve, not the government they need.

Perhaps, if thais could be persuaded to become buddhists, corruption would disappear?

NO no, this is not thai bashing - just read the other thread about corruption,where all posters are farangs....

Money flows uphill here so the best people for the job rarely find themselves in the job they deserve. You have to look no farther than the PM.

The net result of that process is that ministries and policies are geared for skimming rather than benefitting either the people or the country.

If that's what the Thai people want, then I hope they will be happy lodged in one generation of progress behind much of the world. If they aspire to be better than Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam then they will need to up their game to stay in the race. If they hope to compete with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in Asean then a major overhaul is needed.

As it is said, in a Democracy the people get the government they deserve, not the government they need.

Are you suggesting thailand needs a coup?

Money flows uphill here so the best people for the job rarely find themselves in the job they deserve. You have to look no farther than the PM.

The net result of that process is that ministries and policies are geared for skimming rather than benefitting either the people or the country.

If that's what the Thai people want, then I hope they will be happy lodged in one generation of progress behind much of the world. If they aspire to be better than Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam then they will need to up their game to stay in the race. If they hope to compete with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in Asean then a major overhaul is needed.

As it is said, in a Democracy the people get the government they deserve, not the government they need.

Are you suggesting thailand needs a coup?

With this government a coup would be indeed an improvement. Surayud government was the best government of the last 10 or so years.

Does this mean that most Thais are endemically corrupt then? Oh great... I'm sure that will boost investors' confidence in the country. Then again, I'm not too sure how the world works.

Ah well... Again, I'm not surprised from a nation bred like sheep.

Sheep to the slaughter.

Money flows uphill here so the best people for the job rarely find themselves in the job they deserve. You have to look no farther than the PM.

The net result of that process is that ministries and policies are geared for skimming rather than benefitting either the people or the country.

If that's what the Thai people want, then I hope they will be happy lodged in one generation of progress behind much of the world. If they aspire to be better than Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam then they will need to up their game to stay in the race. If they hope to compete with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in Asean then a major overhaul is needed.

As it is said, in a Democracy the people get the government they deserve, not the government they need.

Are you suggesting thailand needs a coup?

With this government a coup would be indeed an improvement. Surayud government was the best government of the last 10 or so years.

Actually what Thailand needs is someone who can CONTROL corruption. That's Thaksin apparently. He knows it so well. See, Thaksin can't bear to see other people making a profit from corruption, so he monopolises it...

Does this mean that most Thais are endemically corrupt then? Oh great... I'm sure that will boost investors' confidence in the country. Then again, I'm not too sure how the world works.

Ah well... Again, I'm not surprised from a nation bred like sheep.

Sheep to the slaughter.

Investors are up to speed about LOS. They are not daft.

An Assumption University poll conducted Sept 1-6, found the number of Thais not objecting to corruption if it was with their partial advantages increased from 63.4 per cent in June to 65.8 per cent in August

The same university would never take money from somebody to study there. Am I assuming the Assumption?

I would never kill somebody for 10,000 baht. Don't know if somebody would offer me $ 1 million......

An Assumption University poll conducted Sept 1-6, found the number of Thais not objecting to corruption if it was with their partial advantages increased from 63.4 per cent in June to 65.8 per cent in August

The same university would never take money from somebody to study there. Am I assuming the Assumption?

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Yes, no yes no, oh l give up cos l have dealt with it all. .

Did they not do a separate poll for police and see what they think about corruption and for them to find a way to stamp it out for once and for all for a small %

Is it really corruption if it is accepted and common? Corruption is like rules and laws in that the majority only have problems with either if they hurt or hinder them but tend to enjoy them when they benefit them.

As it is said, in a Democracy the people get the government they deserve, not the government they need.

Are you suggesting thailand needs a coup?

Absolutely not, what Thailand needs is to mature as a society.

Some times I think it's still stuck in the same vices as Victorian Era England.

Lots of nice comments but how many farangs digsusted by corruption still give a couple of baht for not having a helmet, fast driving or even some pot in their pocket?