More private firms ready to drive anti-graft policy: Survey

Conducted by the Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) during October and November, the survey showed that 54.5 per cent of 425 executives and directors at private companies said their companies are ready to push for the installation of internal anti-corruption policy while another 20 per cent think their organisations are most ready to conduct such practices.  

Some 18 per cent think their companies are moderately ready while 2.3 per cent and 4.4 per cent believe their firms are less ready and least ready respectively. 

Regarding the private sector’s roles in tackling corruption over the next 1-2 years, 69 per cent of the respondents expect the private sector to participate more, with 9 per cent anticipating much more active role from the private sector.  Only 3.7 per cent of respondents expect the private sector to have lesser role and 1.1 per cent see a much lesser role, while the remainder 16.2 per cent anticipating a steady role.  

“Outcome of the survey clearly demonstrates the readiness and eagerness of the Thai private sector to join the fight against corruption and not leaving the burden solely in the hands of the government.  The rising conscious against corruption of the private sector is an explicit signal that it is ready to work in parallel with the government in uprooting corruption in Thailand,” said Panas Simasathien, chairman of the CAC. 

On severity of corruption problem in Thailand over the past year, 28.9 per cent of respondents see the problem worsen substantially while 10.8 per cent think the situation worsen slightly.  Meanwhile, some 31 per cent see the situation improved slightly while 2.5 per cent see substantial improvement.  The remainder 25.1 per cent think the level of corruption problem stay unchanged.

Of those who think the situation worsen, 48.9 per cent believe it was a result of weak law enforcement and prosecution of corruption cases while 40.9 per cent think it owe to absence of effective and transparent process of government services.  Some 29.1 per cent see unclear legislations that open loopholes for corruption as the cause while 28.4 per cent think the situation worsen because there is inadequate engagement from the private sector and civil society in tackling corruption.

And of those who think the situation has improved, 44.9 per cent think the improvement was a result of more engagement of the private sector and civil society while 44.7 per cent believe strict law enforcement and prosecution against those committed corruption were the reason.  Meanwhile, 36 per cent think improvement in effectiveness and transparency of government services helped while 22.8 per cent believe improvement in legislations played a part. 

“The fact that many business leaders don’t see improvement in corruption situation despite serious efforts by various parties reflected the depth and severity of corruption problem in the Thailand. All of us do need to dedicate more and work hard hand in hand in tackling corruption,” Dr. Bandid Nijathaworn, secretary of the CAC said.

Private companies join the CAC voluntarily. As of end-2014, some 406 companies (including 212 listed companies) have joined the CAC, up by 138 companies from 268 at the end of 2013. 

On January 16, CAC Council also certified additional 18 companies for having put in place policy and compliance standards to prevent corruption as per criteria set by the CAC. Of total 406 companies, certified companies are numbered 96. 

List of 18 newly-certified companies 

1) CIMB Thai Bank 

2) Precious Shipping 

3) Surapon Foods 

4) One Asset Management Limited

5) TSFC Securities 

6) The Siam Commercial Bank 

7) SCB Securities 

8) SCB Asset Management 

9) Central Pattana 

10) Asia Plus Securities 

11) Asia Plus Advisory 

12) Kiatnakin Bank 

13) Thanachart Training and Development 

14) Thaicom 

15) Asset Plus Fund Management 

16) KGI Securities (Thailand) 

17) Bangkok Bank 

18) Thai Optical Group