Anti-graft project aims to "shut the door to corruption"
By Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation 4/11/2010
The public and private sectors will next week sign an "integrity pact" aimed at eventually stamping out the country's chronic corruption problem.
The agreement will be signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva representing the public sector, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) from the private sector, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on November 10.
The signing will mark the start of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), Thosaporn Sirisumphand, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) said yesterday.
The 14th IACC, with the theme of "restoring trust: global action for transparency", takes place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on November 10 to 13. More than 1,500 participants from at least 135 countries are expected to attend, including heads of state, academics, and civil society, business, and government representatives.
Thosaporn yesterday said the pact was jointly prepared by the OPDC, the TCC, and the NACC. The agreement calls for future bidding for state projects to be implemented transparently and honestly. The public sector will agree not to demand bribes from bidding companies; and the private sector will agree not to offer bribes to boost their chances of winning a deal. Future bidding will be examined by a third party to ensure transparency.
The OPDC's idea for an integrity pact, which promotes the roles of the private sector and civil society in the fight against corruption, was endorsed by Cabinet on August 31, according to Thosaporn.
He said the project would be implemented in two phases. In the first, between November 11 and December 4, each government ministry would select one department with a high risk of irregularities to come into the project. Private companies would also be invited to take part.
Also, laws and regulations will be amended to increase transparency in the state procurement process, incentives offered to participating businesses, and mechanisms set up - such as the introduction of a public scrutiny and independent assessor system and "certificate of corruption free".
In the second phase, expected early in 2012, all state agencies and private companies involved in the procurement process will be covered. Businesses will be required to publicly disclose details about any procurement deals they win.
"It's time for companies and the private sector to join this project. They should no longer commit sins or damage the country by paying bribes. This project is a show of social responsibility and I hope it will shut the door to corruption. I don't know if it will be successful 100 per cent, but at least we are creating a network of people who do good deeds," he said.
Kobkarn Wattanawarangkura, deputy secretary-general of the TCC, yesterday expressed support for the anti-graft project, saying he expected it to help reduce corruption to an extent.
"This is a good beginning and it will lead to an expansion in the future. Most corruption cases involve procurement bidding by state agencies. I think this project will help reduce corruption somewhat. Both the public and private sectors want transparency and the private sector hopes corruption suppression will be a national agenda," she said.
Kobkarn said such a move against a chronic problem can expect obstacles. However, she pointed to eventual success in Hong Kong and South Korea, where corruption had been a serious problem in the past.
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