PM vows to set up anti-graft hub to target state agencies
Published: 19/05/2012 at 03:24 AM
An anti-corruption centre will be set up as a part of a four-point action plan to consolidate the government's efforts in fighting corruption, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday.
Addressing a workshop organised by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Ms Yingluck stressed her commitment to eradicating graft and bringing about transparency.
The anti-corruption centre would collect and receive information and complaints about graft cases, especially the jockeying for promotions and positions in state agencies.
It would take complaints to the Prime Minister's Office directly for further investigation and provide protection to complainants, she said.
Ms Yingluck said Thailand has a poor record of transparency. The country scored 3.3-3.5 out of 10 on the transparency scale by Transparency International over the past three years.
The proposed four-point action plan calls for promotion of corruption awareness; participation by state agencies in designing mechanisms to address graft; monitoring and inspection; and punishment and reward systems.
On participation, she said a "Clean Initiative" scheme would be launched under which state agencies would be asked to submit proposals on how to boost transparency and accountability. She said the scheme was expected to go ahead in one month's time. NACC chair Panthep Klanarongran yesterday urged the government to show commitment to tacking the problem.
He said a lack of budget to support anti-corruption initiatives seemed to have hampered efforts to tackle graft.
He noted that corruption was a complex issue. It was widespread, especially at the local administration level.
Pramont Sutheewong, chair of the anti-corruption network, yesterday welcomed the government's action plan to counter graft.
He said the network which comprises more than 40 organisations was ready to cooperate.
In a related development, a group of parents yesterday lodged a complaint with Ms Yingluck urging her to look into irregularities involving an entrance exam at Bodindecha (Sing Singaseni) School.
They claimed their children were robbed of their right to further their studies at the school by the education minister's "donations for school seats" policy.
Ms Yingluck said the government had no such policy and urged the parents to step forward if they had any evidence.
She said a committee would be set up to look into the complaint.
Education Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech earlier floated the idea of allowing schools to open class slots for children whose parents donated money to them. He insisted it was not promoting bribery but allowing schools to accept donations transparently.
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http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/294064/pm-vows-to-set-up-anti-graft-hub-to-target-state-agencies
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