Bangkok: The Prime Minister has given urgent policy directives to all government agencies to overhaul their anti-corruption efforts. Today, at the IMPACT Forum Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening of a workshop on integration to proactively strengthen good governance and transparency in government agencies, under the project to drive a proactive anti-corruption monitoring system in government agencies for the fiscal year 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister stated that Thailand continues to face a worrying level of corruption. Every opinion poll consistently ranks corruption as one of the top concerns among the public, indicating that the problem has not been effectively solved. This is reflected in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which urgently needs improvement. The main causes stem from some government officials lacking a sense of responsibility and abusing their positions for personal gain, as well as loopholes in the system that allow corrupt individuals to perceive wrongdoing. Furthermore, there is a lack of genuine integrated cooperation from all sectors.
Today’s event is a crucial opportunity for all sectors to exchange ideas, define directions, and create a turning point in preventing and suppressing corruption and misconduct in the country. This aims to enhance transparency in the work of government agencies and build trust among the private sector and the public. The Ministry of Interior, with its close ties to the people, is well aware of complaints and the impact of corruption. These issues undermine the country in terms of budget, efficiency, and public trust. We must acknowledge this reality and face this challenge directly. All agencies must prioritize raising ethical standards and transparency.
‘I hereby issue an urgent policy directive to all agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including local administrative organizations nationwide and all government agencies, to strengthen their anti-corruption systems. This includes establishing measures to prevent bribery in the approval, licensing, and issuance of land titles processes, as well as government procurement. There must be a rigorous internal audit system, not just a formality, but one that yields tangible results. The key goal is to eliminate corruption and bribery within government agencies, which aligns with the indicators of the national strategy to raise Thailand’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI). I sincerely hope that this meeting will lead to the development of effective and concrete anti-corruption measures and guidelines as soon as possible,’ the Prime Minister stated.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the CPI is a crucial indicator reflecting investor confidence and a country’s competitiveness on the global stage. Shockingly, last year’s assessment showed Thailand scoring only 33 points, ranking 116th out of 182 countries and 8th in ASEAN. Combating corruption and improving the CPI score cannot be achieved without genuine cooperation from all sectors. This must stem from cultivating a corporate culture that values integrity, encompassing both punishing wrongdoers and praising those who are honest and contribute to combating corruption. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that this meeting would lead to the development of effective and tangible measures and guidelines for preventing corruption as soon as possible.
The workshop was attended by Mr. Phumwisarn Kasemsuk, Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Mr. Arsit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, governors of various provinces, local government administrators, civil servants, and government officials.