Toshiba urges

Speaking at a seminar on corruption held yesterday by the Thammasat University Alumni Association, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said Toshiba, a major producer of electronics and electrical appliances,
saw potential for firms to become involved in corruption in connection with this and other major public projects.
“Toshiba’s rejection of the opportunity to take part in the government’s procurement is just one example to show employees and the public that the firm does not want to be involved with any bribery. Other private firms could also stand up and ‘say no’ [to bribery] to prevent future corruption,” she said.
The government plans to provide free tablet computers to school pupils.
As a deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which is the leading business organisation crusading against corruption, Kobkarn hopes the government will develop procurement procedures that are more transparent to prevent corruption. She also urged the government and the police to enforce the law stringently so that both the takers and payers of bribes are punished.
Moreover, to improve the country’s image and develop a society that rejects corruption, Kobkarn said everyone should play his or her part in battling the scourge.
For instance, people should say no to the payment of “tea money” to traffic policeman.
“A big thing can be started by just a small action,” she added.
According to the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy survey, the Kingdom’s efficiency for suppressing corruption slipped two places from 2006 to 2007, while the country’s corruption index also fell.
Vicha Mahakun, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said the government was trying to establish stringent law enforcement that punishes all kinds of graft involving public and private organisations.
Veerachai Techavijit, chairman of the Regent’s School, told the seminar that corruption was a “social trap” for the country.
At the moment, Thailand only deals with corruption from the legal prospective, he said, but more attention must be paid to increasing public awareness, in particular among youth and the younger generation, to pave the way for developing a society that is clean and corruption-free.