Private Involvement Urged As A Way To Prevent Graft In Bt2-Trillion Plan

[webfact]

Private involvement urged as a way to prevent graft in Bt2-trillion plan
Achara Deboonme
The Nation


Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, right, former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, left, with moderator Nation Multimedia Group Chairman Suthichai Yoon, centre, at the Nation Group-hosted debate last week.

BANGKOK: -- Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong has been urged to strengthen collaboration with the private sector to prevent corruption in the government's Bt2-trillion infrastructure investment programme.

Duanden Nikhomborirak, a researcher at the Thailand Develop-ment Research Institute, said that to boost transparency, the government should embrace an integrity pact (IP).

"Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan have adopted this concept, to have a third-party observer for the investment. If Thailand follows suit, this will change the overall picture," she said during a recent debate hosted by Nation Group.

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has been vehement on the need to bolster private-sector involvement to prevent graft. It has so far succeeded in winning commitment from the Transport Ministry on adopting an IP. Developed by Transparency International, the IP is now being modified to fit the Thai environment. The Transport Ministry, which will oversee more than half of the Bt2-trillion investment budget, is the first government unit to have vowed to sign the pact.

At the debate, former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij said he was not quite content with the government's anti-corruption process.

"The ACT should be involved with the screening of all projects. It should be written into the borrowing bill that there will be no loan for any project that does not contain sufficient information for the screening," he said. "There's still time to do this, as the bill has not yet become law."

According to Kittiratt, who is also a deputy prime minister, a working committee is being set up to ensure transparency of investment and it will include Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the ACT. The committee will work out the median prices of all construction projects, mutually agreed by the government, the private sector and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

He also promised information on all projects would be posted on the website of the Comptroller-General's Office.

"We promise transparency, or it may affect other investment projects," he said.

Thailand is ranked 88th in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2012, among 176 countries, with a score of 37 out of 100.

IP was developed by Transparency International (TI) in the mid-1990s as a guideline for countries worldwide in preventing corruption in state procurement - which constitutes a substantial amount.

The pact contains rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes of any sort, or collude with competitors to obtain a contract, or while carrying it out. Also, bidders will disclose all commissions and similar expenses paid by them to anybody in connection with the contract, and sanctions will apply when violations occur. These sanctions range from loss or denial of contract, forfeiture of the bid or performance bond and liability for damages, to being barred from future contracts on the side of the bidders, and criminal or disciplinary action against employees of the government.

Transparency International Indonesia was set up in 2000 as a non-profit organisation. Since then, it has introduced the first-ever district Integrity Pact in Sumatra's Solok district, as well in Aceh, Banten, part of East Java, part of South Kalimantan, and part of South Sulawesi.

In Solok, an Independent Monitoring Board was set up by local non-government groups, together with TI Indonesia, called Aliansi Pendorong Pakta Integritas or APPI (the Alliance of Integrity Pact Independent Monitors). APPI is now working to monitor every development project funded by state or local authorities. APPI holds public hearings with the local government and legislature to make recommendations for transparent public procurement as well as community-based participatory monitoring.

Last year, APPI was in charge of monitoring nine of the largest procurement projects in Solok district. Three of the nine projects were scrutinised and finally declared as "troubled" (a convention-hall project in Alahan Panjang, a water-channelling project in Muaro Paneh and the Kapalo Banda Bridge). These cases have now been investigated by legal authorities and are waiting to be dealt with by the local court.

In Aceh, TI Indonesia is developing "citizen report cards". Citizens are encouraged to take part in the monitoring of the reconstruction process. Then, local NGO partners will start investigating where reports indicate corruption. The results of these investigations will be used to lobby for changes in public policy by holding public hearings at the subdistrict level. There are plans to invite all stakeholders to join these public hearings, the aim of which is to make authorities aware of concrete complaints by directly listening to citizens' voices.


-- The Nation 2013-04-22

[soi41]

Yeah right. Let the fox count the chickens !

[Thait Spot]

Yeah right. Let the fox count the chickens !

They're thinking of asking the chickens to count the foxes.

[NongKhaiKid]

More nonsense about corruption. Nothing's ever going to change unless there's a sea change in Thai attitudes and culture but with money to be made it will never happen so we will have to live with guff like this ad infinitum

[BrianCR]

More nonsense about corruption. Nothing's ever going to change unless there's a sea change in Thai attitudes and culture but with money to be made it will never happen so we will have to live with guff like this ad infinitum

Now that's a nice positive approach - could we perhaps say that "nothing's ever going to change unless we try and find a cure for the illness?" Have a nice day

[chainarong]

I don't know which side of the private spectrum we are talking about but I hope Korn is indicating Expat participation, I guess no one can tell me from the government , how much energy prices will be in 2063, thought not and you are borrowing over fifty years.

[Locationthailand]

So the article is a clear admission the Baht 2T loan is going to be scammed. That's not news - we all knew this.

[Joe Mamma]

Accountability, making the person in charge go down for any subordinates actions. FULL accountability. And transparent financial checks on their business dealings.

[slapout]

It is a crying shame that you accept that your appointed/elected politicians/robber baron business people, are crooks out to enrich themselves and to hell with the people's needs. Most of the developed world has gone thru this and found, at least partial solutions, checks and balances.

Until the majority of the Thai people are made aware of what has been denied them (stolen from them), their children and future generations, these low life leeches will continue to carry on as they have.

Justice is what is required, and not just for a hand picked group of 'cannon fodder', thrown out by the establishment. We have seen how rapidly a gathering of people can be turned into a destructive mob, just find the means to direct their attention to the real problem.

I do not see 'reason, give and take, etc', working in the present political situation, its going to take someone with a mindset for total, immediate and continued justice to lead, and I do think it will eventually develop into a majority of the Thai people, in this quest.

[rubl]

At least one thing is clear, transparently so even: the money will be gone and the loan will take 50 years to repay

[Thai at Heart]

As long as the bids, contracts and offers are shrowded in complete secrecy due to the ludicrous defamation laws, what hope is there?

[dddave]

This is comparable to dropping 5 gallons of ice cream on the ground and putting up signs saying "NO ANTS ALLOWED"

[Greer]

Any government or semi-government department charged with controlling corruption, must be totally and absolutely transparent, but the laws of the land permit all kinds of legal challenges to any form of openness and honesty - sadly, the system protects hidden agendas and corruption by its very methodologies and the allowable implementation.

I tend to agree in part with what NongKhaiKid said regarding the need for a sea-change in attitudes - that is really at the heart of it - people have to become sick to death of corruption and hidden power plays, and the place has to finally come clean - but I disagree with any implication by anyone that Thailand is alone in this regard - there is not even a western country that can make the claim of total transparency, and if they did, we still know that they are politicians, and the best way to know when a politician is lying is when you see his/her mouth moving!

[Tatsujin]

More nonsense about corruption. Nothing's ever going to change unless there's a sea change in Thai attitudes and culture but with money to be made it will never happen so we will have to live with guff like this ad infinitum

Now that's a nice positive approach - could we perhaps say that "nothing's ever going to change unless we try and find a cure for the illness?" Have a nice day

You could say that, but it would be pointless as anyone who has lived here well knows. Nothing changes in the LoS despite all the bullshit spoken.

[Tatsujin]

So the article is a clear admission the Baht 2T loan is going to be scammed. That's not news - we all knew this.

And the 3rd party "independent" body will be well paid to say otherwise.

Edited April 22, 2013 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[OzMick]

When we are seeing an attack on those opposing political corruption, what chance is there in fighting financial corruption, which is after all, the reason they want to be elected.

[MaxLee]

Private sector won't ever be involved, because they can cause the bidders to lose public face, and you know how much FACE and STATUS means in the Thai Chinese feudal elite clans

[Bellweather]

More nonsense about corruption. Nothing's ever going to change unless there's a sea change in Thai attitudes and culture but with money to be made it will never happen so we will have to live with guff like this ad infinitum

Now that's a nice positive approach - could we perhaps say that "nothing's ever going to change unless we try and find a cure for the illness?" Have a nice day

You could say that, but it would be pointless as anyone who has lived here well knows. Nothing changes in the LoS despite all the bullshit spoken.

There's a theory that corruption doesn't exist in Thailand as when a wrong becomes a way of life it ceases to be a wrong. i'm not going to attempt an argument but it's a damn good excuse

[Tatsujin]

More nonsense about corruption. Nothing's ever going to change unless there's a sea change in Thai attitudes and culture but with money to be made it will never happen so we will have to live with guff like this ad infinitum

Now that's a nice positive approach - could we perhaps say that "nothing's ever going to change unless we try and find a cure for the illness?" Have a nice day

You could say that, but it would be pointless as anyone who has lived here well knows. Nothing changes in the LoS despite all the bullshit spoken.

There's a theory that corruption doesn't exist in Thailand as when a wrong becomes a way of life it ceases to be a wrong. i'm not going to attempt an argument but it's a damn good excuse

That's the whole point though Bellweather, the Thai's (in the main) don't see it as "corruption", just the way it is and has always been. And those that acknowledge it as "corruption" expect then at some point to get their share of it.

[belg]

put VAT at 10% and no trillion loan is needed

the thing would fund itself

too easy, right...

[ZhouZhou]

According to Kittiratt, who is also a deputy prime minister, a working committee is being set up to ensure transparency of investment and it will include Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the ACT. The committee will work out the median prices of all construction projects, mutually agreed by the government, the private sector and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

He also promised information on all projects would be posted on the website of the Comptroller-General's Office.

"We promise transparency, or it may affect other investment projects," he said.

good job. transparency is the way to go.

move forward Thailand.

[ZhouZhou]

Private sector won't ever be involved, because they can cause the bidders to lose public face, and you know how much FACE and STATUS means in the Thai Chinese feudal elite clans

what Chinese feudal elite clans you are talking about?

are you a national socialist or what kind of propaganda words are that?

Private sector will be involved. specially if the show is run by PTP. no worry.

[khunken]

According to Kittiratt, who is also a deputy prime minister, a working
committee is being set up to ensure transparency of investment and it
will include Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the ACT. The committee will
work out the median prices of all construction projects, mutually agreed
by the government, the private sector and the National Anti-Corruption
Commission.

A 'working committee' to ensure transparency. What BS.

We've seen the 'transparency' of corruption 'investigations' into the rice scam. PTP will never allow a completely independent body to monitor & investigate skimming, especially in major projects. Independence is equivalent to opposition in Thaksin speak.

Involvement of the private sector (translation: PTP cronies) has absolutely no bearing on reducing corruption. They will pay whatever it costs - under & over the table - to get projects and, if need be, reduce quality to enhance profits.

[MikeOboe57]

Private sector won't ever be involved, because they can cause the bidders to lose public face, and you know how much FACE and STATUS means in the Thai Chinese feudal elite clans

what Chinese feudal elite clans you are talking about?

are you a national socialist or what kind of propaganda words are that?

Private sector will be involved. specially if the show is run by PTP. no worry.

Dear Zhouzhou,

here is a link for you, so you don't have to further embarrass yourself by continuously asking other forum members "are you a national socialist?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism

I hope this helps.

Although it is just a "people' encyclopedia" and therefore not 100% error-free, it also has useful information on "democracy" and "justice". Great if you want to learn something

[ZhouZhou]

Private sector won't ever be involved, because they can cause the bidders to lose public face, and you know how much FACE and STATUS means in the Thai Chinese feudal elite clans

what Chinese feudal elite clans you are talking about?

are you a national socialist or what kind of propaganda words are that?

Private sector will be involved. specially if the show is run by PTP. no worry.

Dear Zhouzhou,

here is a link for you, so you don't have to further embarrass yourself by continuously asking other forum members "are you a national socialist?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism

I hope this helps.

Although it is just a "people' encyclopedia" and therefore not 100% error-free, it also has useful information on "democracy" and "justice". Great if you want to learn something

there aren't only the German Nazis.

national socialism is a combination of nationalist ideas with socialist ideas. both ideologies not very good in my book. standing for hate.

like turning on the non-nationals like on the Chinese in this case would be born out of nationalism

turning on those who have a little bit more than the average is a typical socialist trait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialism_(disambiguation)

[chainarong]

According to Kittiratt, who is also a deputy prime minister, a working committee is being set up to ensure transparency of investment and it will include Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the ACT. The committee will work out the median prices of all construction projects, mutually agreed by the government, the private sector and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

He also promised information on all projects would be posted on the website of the Comptroller-General's Office.

"We promise transparency, or it may affect other investment projects," he said.

good job. transparency is the way to go.

move forward Thailand.

I thought transparent was something you could see through.

[slapout]

Maybe the Minister can give us some examples of transparency in the multitude of projects which this government has already been involved in. There must be some good examples he can use as reference points, how they worked, what was accomplished to date, where the monies are/have gone, etc.

No little white lies allowed, The investorgators looking into a multitude of complaints cannot get info from the government agencies handling various parts of each project, much less full accounting. Government spending without line item accounting, bids, techinal tenders, receipts for expenditures, etc, may be one of those foreign languages we keep hearing need to be taught in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Private sector won't ever be involved, because they can cause the bidders to lose public face, and you know how much FACE and STATUS means in the Thai Chinese feudal elite clans

what Chinese feudal elite clans you are talking about?

are you a national socialist or what kind of propaganda words are that?

Private sector will be involved. specially if the show is run by PTP. no worry.

Dear Zhouzhou,

here is a link for you, so you don't have to further embarrass yourself by continuously asking other forum members "are you a national socialist?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism

I hope this helps.

Although it is just a "people' encyclopedia" and therefore not 100% error-free, it also has useful information on "democracy" and "justice". Great if you want to learn something

there aren't only the German Nazis.

national socialism is a combination of nationalist ideas with socialist ideas. both ideologies not very good in my book. standing for hate.

like turning on the non-nationals like on the Chinese in this case would be born out of nationalism

turning on those who have a little bit more than the average is a typical socialist trait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialism_(disambiguation)

All true, but you have to admit, those buggars from Guangdong don't half know how to carve up a country.

[ZhouZhou]

what Chinese feudal elite clans you are talking about?

are you a national socialist or what kind of propaganda words are that?

Private sector will be involved. specially if the show is run by PTP. no worry.

Dear Zhouzhou,

here is a link for you, so you don't have to further embarrass yourself by continuously asking other forum members "are you a national socialist?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism

I hope this helps.

Although it is just a "people' encyclopedia" and therefore not 100% error-free, it also has useful information on "democracy" and "justice". Great if you want to learn something

there aren't only the German Nazis.

national socialism is a combination of nationalist ideas with socialist ideas. both ideologies not very good in my book. standing for hate.

like turning on the non-nationals like on the Chinese in this case would be born out of nationalism

turning on those who have a little bit more than the average is a typical socialist trait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialism_(disambiguation)

All true, but you have to admit, those buggars from Guangdong don't half know how to carve up a country.

Thailand have seen dark days of discrimination of Chinese origin people in the 30s till 60s in last century when the military men ruled.

No need to repeat that. it is similar like to declare that the Jews rule the western world. we know exactly what kind of political background those people have who make such claims. Targeting Chinese is done in the same spirit.