Authorities receive poor rating in anti-corruption efforts
The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has been vocal in its criticism of the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration's approach to tackling corruption. The organisation, led by President Mana Nimitmongkol, has urged the government to take the lead in battling corruption, starting with open government practices and making it a national agenda item.
However, over the past two years, state anti-corruption mechanisms have weakened. The government discontinued bodies like the Anti-Corruption Operation Centre, and there has been no concrete anti-corruption policy, despite the government's announcement of a plan to improve Thailand's score in the annual Corruption Perceptions Index.
The ACT has not mentioned any specific progress or improvements in the government's commitment to suppressing corruption since their initial criticism a year ago. The government has failed to gain public confidence due to numerous policies and initiatives, which are viewed as political ploys. Public sentiment towards the government has turned negative due to several factors, including the rampant corruption in Thailand and the government's failure to show seriousness about suppressing this scourge.
One example of the government's failure to address corruption effectively is the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building during an earthquake on March 28. The ACT has criticised the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for awarding the SAO for transparency and integrity, citing a lack of accountability for the building collapse.
The ACT president, Mana, has further criticised the government for its lack of progress in bureaucracy and legal reforms to tackle the root cause of graft, as promised. He has stated that bureaucrats are idle due to the government's lack of clarity in tackling corruption, and that the government tends to respond to crises irresponsibly, ordering agencies to identify culprits rather than conducting transparent investigations and addressing root causes to prevent recurrence.
In an effort to promote transparency and combat corruption, the ACT will host Anti-Corruption Day 2025 on Sept 6, inviting online participation to help design a system where honest individuals can thrive and wrongdoers have no place in society. Additionally, the ACT has recommended an audit of abandoned and incomplete state-funded buildings nationwide.
Despite ongoing efforts in the region to bolster anti-corruption initiatives, such as training programs involving the NACC and international partners, the specific status of ACT's recommendations to the Paetongtarn administration remains unclear. The mistrust towards the government stems from the rampant corruption in Thailand and the government's failure to show seriousness about suppressing this scourge.
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- The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has been vocal about the lack of a concrete anti-corruption policy and legislation in the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration, with ACT President Mana Nimitmongkol advocating for a stronger commitment from the government in this area.
- The politics surrounding corruption in Thailand have become a general news topic, with the ACT criticizing the government for its failure to address corruption effectively and promote transparency, as demonstrated by the collapsed State Audit Office building and the subsequent criticism of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
