Thailand has held an International Anti-Corruption Day event, encouraging all people in Thailand to fight against corruption. The opening ceremony was presided over by Privy Councillor General Paiboon Khumchaya.
He told event attendees that the Prime Minister is serious about the suppression of corruption.
He pointed out that there are many corruption cases before the courts in Thailand.
All citizens in Thailand need to help solve the corruption issue which often stems from power and greed, he said.
He said it isn’t easy to eliminate corruption in society. Saying eventually all cases will end up in the justice system which must provide justice and fairness to all.
He also praised the Anti Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) for its continued efforts against corruption.
The Privy Councillor said it is now time for a leader to find ways to solve corruption issues. And for the ACT to lead volunteers and related sectors to eliminate corruption.
Gen Paiboon did not hesitate in accusing civil servants; political office holders; and business people of jointly siphoning money from the government while spending state budgets.
He has accused the three groups of corrupt people of being to blame for Thailand struggling to develop.
It is not only financial greed that holds the country back, but also their desire for career advancement, he said.
“That’s why corruption problems are complicated and hard to solve,” he said.
Thailand dropped to 37 points in Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index
The index, prepared by Transparency International, ranks 180 countries by perceived levels of public-sector corruption.
On a scale of 0 to 100, in which 0 is “highly corrupt” and 100 is “very clean”, Thailand scored 37 this year, up from 35 last year.
Thailand’s score has dropped in three assessment sources involving politics and democracy.
