Finance Ministry to propose amendment to Procurement Act to fight corruption

[webfact]

Finance Ministry to propose amendment to Procurement Act to fight corruption
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Sept 8 -- Ministry of Finance will ask the cabinet to amend the Procurement Regulation Act in an attempt to fight corruption, according to Permanent Secretary for Finance Rungson Sriworasat

Mr Rungsan today told an anti-corruption seminar that the amendment regulations were upgraded from its original version that the Comptroller General’s Department had drafted.

The upgraded version was designed to fix the loopholes of the original version that would otherwise allow corrupt officials to easily amend it with a cabinet resolution to facilitate corruption in government procurement.

Mr Rungson said that the bill should be quickly passed to ensure transparency in government projects, especially those under the 2.4 trillion baht infrastructure development scheme.

He said that investors said that they had to pay 30 per cent of their project investment costs to politicians in addition to bribing officials at government agencies that owned projects to win contracts.

Mr Rungson said that Thailand ranked poorly in corruption ratings.

Transparency International ranked Thailand at 102nd among 177 countries for transparency.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand is ranked 5th. Singapore is top ranked, followed by Brunei and Malaysia.

He hoped that if Thailand effectively fights corruption, it will attract more foreign investment. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-09-08

[Costas2008]

They amended the amendment to amend the original amendment to ensure transparency in government projects.

Keep on amending........something good must come out at the end.

[DrLom]

"He said that investors said that they had to pay 30 per cent of their project investment costs to politicians in addition to bribing officials at government agencies that owned projects to win contracts.

Mr Rungson said that Thailand ranked poorly in corruption ratings."

10/10 for H/W. Did you also, per chance, win a contract to gain your position, or was it simply names and family oriented?

[hanuman2543]

What about enforcing the existing rules and hand out jail sentences and confiscate the ill gotten gains? There is no need for another round of blabla. Just be serious.

Edited September 8, 2014 by hanuman2543

[Boxclever]

Starting with the generals??

[rubl]

Starting with the generals??

Oh come on, try to be somewhat more clever.

This is about the government bureaucracy which leads a life of their own with politicians helping and sharing. Of course if you really think that generals who deal with budgets should be investigated first, purely to allow them to set an example by (or with?) their "upright conduct", you might implicitly accept that the work the NCPO wants to do may take just a tad longer than expected. Not easy to right what was wrong for decades.

So, shall I ask Gen. Prayuth to consider staying on for another few years, or will you do?

Edited September 8, 2014 by rubl

[Boxclever]

He's PM now, why doesn't he declare his assets? I'll tell you why, they are the most corrupt institution in Thailand. If you knew how rich these 1400 or so generals are you would be shocked!

[Boxclever]

How do they keep a straight face when they talk about "fighting corruption"

[rubl]

How do they keep a straight face when they talk about "fighting corruption"

Watched Ms. Yingluck in 2013 and 2012 ?

[Baerboxer]

He's PM now, why doesn't he declare his assets? I'll tell you why, they are the most corrupt institution in Thailand. If you knew how rich these 1400 or so generals are you would be shocked!

Who told you how rich they are? One of your red shirt mates?

They haven't been bragging to Forbes like one well known Thai family patriarch.

Edited September 8, 2014 by Baerboxer

[Robert2006]

Unless you’re connected it’s much too risky to create business in Thailand, especially if you’re a farang. Rule of law is not strong in Thailand, in the first world economies speculating in a new business is risky but in Thailand is a senseless risk, particularly for farang businessman.

I know some seem to have had success but their almost certainly all having to pay underhanded money to some criminal or risk the consequences. Very few if any genuinely talented businessmen will be compelled to build companies in that type of environment.

This in my opinion is the primary reason Thailand will likely never be a first world economy, the corruption and of course the lack of education and motivation of the employee pool.

However from my observation I really don’t think they care!

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

How do they keep a straight face when they talk about "fighting corruption"

Watched Ms. Yingluck in 2013 and 2012 ?

Watched Abhisit and Suthep in 2008-2010 ? Backed by the 2007 Junta what corruption fighting did they accomplished ? Did the twelve successive coups eliminate corruption? The blame for lack of corruption fighting goes beyond political and military affiliations. It goes to the heart of the culture.

[Thai at Heart]

You need a procurement act to get people to buy things honestly?

[Robby nz]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

How do they keep a straight face when they talk about "fighting corruption"

Watched Ms. Yingluck in 2013 and 2012 ?

Watched Abhisit and Suthep in 2008-2010 ? Backed by the 2007 Junta what corruption fighting did they accomplished ? Did the twelve successive coups eliminate corruption? The blame for lack of corruption fighting goes beyond political and military affiliations. It goes to the heart of the culture.

I did actually watch the Dems in 2008-2010, see on the graph how in spite of having to take on the parasite parties as coalition partners they managed to get corruption on the way down.

it seems you still haven't got it through your head that there were two Thaksin proxy parties between the coup and the Dems forming a Govt.

Incidentally, look how those two managed to increase corruption and the follow on from PT.

[visionchaser45]

Starting with the generals??

Oh come on, try to be somewhat more clever.

This is about the government bureaucracy which leads a life of their own with politicians helping and sharing. Of course if you really think that generals who deal with budgets should be investigated first, purely to allow them to set an example by (or with?) their "upright conduct", you might implicitly accept that the work the NCPO wants to do may take just a tad longer than expected. Not easy to right what was wrong for decades.

So, shall I ask Gen. Prayuth to consider staying on for another few years, or will you do?

Surely, after the GT-200 scandal, the Thai military now has the first-hand experience with procurement corruption to allow them to lead the crusade against procurement corruption.

[visionchaser45]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

How do they keep a straight face when they talk about "fighting corruption"

Watched Ms. Yingluck in 2013 and 2012 ?

Watched Abhisit and Suthep in 2008-2010 ? Backed by the 2007 Junta what corruption fighting did they accomplished ? Did the twelve successive coups eliminate corruption? The blame for lack of corruption fighting goes beyond political and military affiliations. It goes to the heart of the culture.

I did actually watch the Dems in 2008-2010, see on the graph how in spite of having to take on the parasite parties as coalition partners they managed to get corruption on the way down.

576x544xCorruption-Perceptions-Index-THAILAND-2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.NKNgav0HXt1.jpg

it seems you still haven't got it through your head that there were two Thaksin proxy parties between the coup and the Dems forming a Govt.

Incidentally, look how those two managed to increase corruption and the follow on from PT.

It is easy to use data to trick the simple-minded. Please note the word "perceptions" at the top of the chart. The chart tracks perceptions of corruption, which can be influenced by simple rhetoric and propoganda, rather than indices of actual corruption. But, hey, it worked on you, didn't it?

[timewilltell]

With a corrupt, inefficient slow and Thai biased justice system, a hopeless and corrupt police force, a culture of deceit, repeated flooding and a lazy workforce is Thailand such an inviting place to do business for foreigners?

Add in a xenophobic Foreign Business Act and a requirement for the aforementioned deceitful and untrustworthy pool of required controlling Thai investors into the business you are supposed to provide the investment for who can turf you out without recompense at a moments notice all supported by Thai law and really it is amazing there are any foreign businesses who want to invest here at all.

I think Thailand has had some fortunate times given its infrastructure which advantage is rapidly diminishing vis a vis its neighbors and if it is not to be overtaken and losing face to the Burmese and Vietnamese, it had better wake up. Protectionist, xenophobia will not encourage foreign investment here when there are so many more friendly alternatives coming to the table in the region.

Do these facts that are pretty plain to see, even make it through the psyche here?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[hotsoup]

I thought a procurer was a Pandar or Pimp or Ponce?

[rubl]

Starting with the generals??

Oh come on, try to be somewhat more clever.

This is about the government bureaucracy which leads a life of their own with politicians helping and sharing. Of course if you really think that generals who deal with budgets should be investigated first, purely to allow them to set an example by (or with?) their "upright conduct", you might implicitly accept that the work the NCPO wants to do may take just a tad longer than expected. Not easy to right what was wrong for decades.

So, shall I ask Gen. Prayuth to consider staying on for another few years, or will you do?

Surely, after the GT-200 scandal, the Thai military now has the first-hand experience with procurement corruption to allow them to lead the crusade against procurement corruption.

So, shall I ask Gen Prayuth to drop all activities and satisfy the curiosity of 'the people' before doing some real work later on, or will you ?

BTW at least something seems to be done, rather than having a big 'Yingluck' show and no follow up.

[rubl]

I did actually watch the Dems in 2008-2010, see on the graph how in spite of having to take on the parasite parties as coalition partners they managed to get corruption on the way down.

576x544xCorruption-Perceptions-Index-THAILAND-2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.NKNgav0HXt1.jpg

it seems you still haven't got it through your head that there were two Thaksin proxy parties between the coup and the Dems forming a Govt.

Incidentally, look how those two managed to increase corruption and the follow on from PT.

It is easy to use data to trick the simple-minded. Please note the word "perceptions" at the top of the chart. The chart tracks perceptions of corruption, which can be influenced by simple rhetoric and propoganda, rather than indices of actual corruption. But, hey, it worked on you, didn't it?

Absolutely, old chap.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/686457-thailand-slips-in-global-corruption-survey/

Just like those deluded people talking about 140,000 Baht microphones, isn't it