Thai survey: December corruption index hits five-year low

[webfact]

Survey: December corruption index hits five-year low

BANGKOK, 22 Jan 2015 (NNT) – The corruption situation in the country fell to a five-year low in December, according to the Center of Economics and Business Forecasting of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Based on the UTCC’s recent survey, corruption situation index in December 2014 jumped to 49 from 46 in June 2015, signifying a huge improvement. Between 2010 and 2013, private operators had to reward politicians or civil servants with a commission of 25-35 percent to secure a business deal.

The amount of commission has continued to drop since June last year during which period businessmen were found to have paid a commission of 15-25 percent on average. In December, the amount of gift money dropped by five to 15 percent. According to the UTCC, each percent of tea money reduction represents an amount of 10 billion baht which will remain in the state coffers.

Sixty percent of the respondents noticed that the practice of bribery had been far less rampant than before since the arrival of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the government’s issuance of anti-graft measures. They also attributed the decrease in corrupt practices to the public’s strong opposition.

The pollster predicted that efficiency of the anti-graft measures would enable the country’s economy to grow by another percent to four percent amid the volatile global economies.


-- NNT 2015-01-22

[BKKBrit]

Private operators had to reward politicians or civil servants with a commission of 25-35 percent to secure a business deal.

Wrong. The Politicians and Civil Servants DEMAND it. And in many cases, it's paid upfront with no guarantee of success.

The amount of commission has continued to drop since June last year during which period businessmen were found to have paid a commission of 15-25 percent on average. In December, the amount of gift money dropped by five to 15 percent.

So it continues, unabated. It's just back to Democrat and post-Thaksin levels.

it will rise again unless offenders are caught and jailed. Both the givers and takers - and whistleblowers rewarded with a % of the transaction.

[Cuchulainn]

So, since the ousting of the Yingluck inept, incompetent, corrupt, crony government (and I use that term very loosely indeed), corruption has plummetted?

Now THERE'S a surprise.

[Lingba]

come to Phuket and tell me that corruption is lower

[candide]

This country will always amaze me! So if I understand well, as they are more afraid of getting caught than before, corrupt civil servants don't stop getting money, but reduce the % of commission they require.

I can imagine talks like this:

civil servant: "Give me 30% commission for that"

businessman: "Do you know there is currently an anti-corruption campaign?"

Civil servant: "OK, give me only 15%"

Businessman: "OK, that's better!"

[BKKBrit]

So, since the ousting of the Yingluck inept, incompetent, corrupt, crony government (and I use that term very loosely indeed), corruption has plummetted?

Now THERE'S a surprise.

Ah yes...the bogey man is always PT without consideration given to the smaller parties that have been part of almost every government since records began. Open your eyes a little more and you just might see the light. How do you think these smaller parties manage to arm-bend their way into almost every government of the day? Because they're nice people? Look at the ministries those horse traders ended up with and you'll get a clearer picture.

[chotthee]

See, absolute prove that no Thaksin, no corruption.

Well done Prayuth. Coup again any day please to save the nation.

[Robby nz]

So, since the ousting of the Yingluck inept, incompetent, corrupt, crony government (and I use that term very loosely indeed), corruption has plummetted?

Now THERE'S a surprise.

Ah yes...the bogey man is always PT without consideration given to the smaller parties that have been part of almost every government since records began. Open your eyes a little more and you just might see the light. How do you think these smaller parties manage to arm-bend their way into almost every government of the day? Because they're nice people? Look at the ministries those horse traders ended up with and you'll get a clearer picture.

You are correct in the case of the 3 previous Govts before PT for they all needed the small (parasite) parties for a majority so had to give them ministries they could plunder in order to get their cooperation.

However in the case of PT they had a majority without the smaller parties, some of whom told their voters they would never go along with Thaksin, they took the small parties on knowing how corrupt they were and gave then ministries to keep them quiet even though they had no need to. Spreading the corruption around ?

[djhotsox]

They actually have an "Index" for this? Amazing......Thailand......

[kalbo123]

They actually have an "Index" for this? Amazing......Thailand......

And if they have an index how do they measure things? Ask a civil servant how much tea money did you make this month?

[chainarong]

There is something inherently wrong with a country when it has to use a corruption index, it is like admitting that you like rubber dolls.

[candide]

They actually have an "Index" for this? Amazing......Thailand......

After thinking about it, it's quite useful for businessmen.

- when they do a business plan, they can forecast their cost more accurately,

- they can also define their negotiation targets by knowing what others are paying,

- it's also a way to ensure fair competition on the market. If this information was not diffused, there would be higher differences in the level of commission paid by each economic agent, and competition would be distorted.

Amazing Thailand!

[retarius]

Corruption has absolutely nothing to do with the size of the bribe....if you are asked for 15% or 50% it is still corruption. They should have recorded how often a bribe is sought or paid...and in public service this has to be around 100%....ie totally corrupt.

[biggles45]

is corruption really lower.....or did they just pay off the folk who compile the index to get a good result. !!!

[EnglishJohn]

Why does everything have to be red or yellow ?.

Thai government organisations are crooked from top to bottom. It is the result of a corrupt society evolved over hundreds of years.

Pheu-Thai (ie Thaksin) represent corruption in the extreme - without regard to the effect on the country whatsoever. I'm still stunned that one man can buy/bribe a whole government of MP's. But it doesn't mean the other sides are clean, they are just less ruthless.

Reasonable people realise this. Stupid people will defend their side no matter what - such as claiming Yingluck or any minister in the rice scheme is innocent.

[rubl]

come to Phuket and tell me that corruption is lower

If all expenses paid up in front I'll come to Phuket to tell you

[daiwill60]

June 2015 isn't here yet???????????

What is more worrying is that it is seen as good that corruption has dropped and that is OK???

It is as if it were related to the RetailPrice index and rates of inflation , which is obviously evident in the way this report is presented????

Edited January 22, 2015 by daiwill60

[surangw]

who did they survey, the corruptors or the corruptees ?

[gandalf12]

Can anyone name a country that has zero corruption? I doubt it. I am not condoning it but it is unfortunately a fact of life. Thailand is not an exception by any means

Edited January 22, 2015 by gandalf12

[berybert]

Oh my.

[Doc46]

Figures,numbers that means nothing,,Next year the corruption will be ZERO,,,WHY? Because if no one admit that they get paid or did pay Than on paper there is no corruption,What fool is going to believe that?

[timewilltell]

This article is just crazy. It talks about July 15 and refers to the period to December 14. It refers to corruption money as gifts and tea money.

Thailand has a culture where in Chinese style small gifts would be bestowed on a person you are asking favor of - even if you are otherwise paying them. It is also referred to sometimes as cake or sweet money like you might give a kid to spend at the tuck shop. Originally it was a small offering like a bottle of drink or some sweet cakes but of course like the gargantuan monster that is corruption greed has turned the custom into something really nasty. Along come the sweet talking politicians who are the scourge of Thai society raping the coffers of Thailand as the traitors they are.

Using these sweet euphemisms for corruption is disgusting. Call it what it is - rampant traitorous corruption. And let those who do it know what low life's in Thai society they are.

As for the findings of the survey, well it does show that the NCPO has a lot further to go in its goal achievement. Just pass a law of NO CORRUPTION with some harsh penalties and the enforce the bloody thing. It disgusts me. As for phuket you can shove the stinking cesspit of corruption along with their lawyers where the sun doesn't shine.

[Cake Monster]

Corruption is still rife in Thailand, from the low ranking Government Officials to the top ranking Police Office, they are predominatly corrupt.

This report is more BS, and anybody living here knows the truth, that the corruption is as bad now as it ever was.

[wabothai]

How does one measure corruption or lack thereof?

[xygote]

See, absolute prove that no Thaksin, no corruption.

Well done Prayuth. Coup again any day please to save the nation.

What a stupid comment to make. Are you for real? If so, you are golden proof of the effectiveness of the Thai education system!

[rickirs]

"... each percent of tea money reduction represents an amount of 10 billion baht which will remain in the state coffers."

So it can then be frittered away by the Junta-led government as "gifts" to the people. If there is one thing that remains a constant in corruption, it's the use of financial power to sell an ideology. The Junta takes lessons from no one!

[rickirs]

"Between 2010 and 2013, private operators had to reward politicians or civil servants with a commission of 25-35 percent to secure a business deal....
The amount of commission has continued to drop since June last year during which period businessmen were found to have paid a commission of 15-25 percent on average. In December, the amount of gift money dropped by five to 15 percent."

Seriously, if these rewards are being tracked, why not go after all the involved parties and get the gift money to ZERO percent?

[chainarong]

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Can anyone name a country that has zero corruption? I doubt it. I am not condoning it but it is unfortunately a fact of life. Thailand is not an exception by any means

We all know that , with Thailand there is very little checks and balances and when there is no one acts, everyone knows who is on the take in every department but everyone keeps their mouths shut , know why, because you could wake up dead or even disappear , now that is a good incentive for me to keep my mouth shut.

[Toknarok]

I would much rather see a contribution from an organisation such as Transparency International than I would from a Thai University linked to the Chamber of Commerce. Too close to home and with vested interests at heart.

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

[Jonmarleesco]

'Sixty percent of the respondents ... attributed the decrease in corrupt practices to the public’s strong opposition.' Really? I'm surprised, given that numerous surveys have claimed members of the Thai public are, at best, equivocal about corruption; at worst, in favour if they would benefit.