Only efficient scrutiny can beat endemic corruption

We have seen efforts by different sectors of society to tackle this problem. It is obvious that the efforts have yet to succeed, as irregularities and corruption are still rife in this country, from the local to the national levels.

 

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is aware of the problem and even mentions in the provisional charter the need for a mechanism to prevent corruption. The NCPO also sees the need for some legal measure to prevent people, particularly politicians, who are convicted of corruption from assuming any public office.

 

After the coup, it seems that elected politicians are the No 1 villains in the eye of the NCPO. In fact, politicians have become synonymous with corruption and linked to bribe-taking and under-the-table kickbacks involving large public projects.

 

As a result, many public projects became too expensive because politicians in power demanded kickbacks from prospective contractors or concessionaires in exchange for involvement in the projects. Not only national politicians but local politicians were known to be corrupt.

 

However, politicians are not the only group to be blamed for the spread of corruption in our country. Civil servants and permanent officials are also involved in the practice. Some may simply act as “conspirators” but many others demand bribes themselves.

 

For many Thais, tea money or “the usual pay-off” has become part of everyday life, particularly when they have to deal with bureaucracy. So, it is not the politicians alone who should be blamed for the prevalence of corruption.

 

There are also cases where junior officials demand bribes by citing “the higher up”, unbeknownst to their bosses.

 

In fact, corruption is not limited to only bureaucrats or politicians. The likelihood of corruption is higher when the scrutiny system is poor and allows people in power to abuse their authority for personal gain.

 

Without governing power, politicians cannot make personal gains through public projects. Also, bureaucrats cannot get involved in irregularities unless they are empowered to endorse or approve something. To effectively get rid of corruption, we should not allow power to be concentrated on anyone alone without efficient scrutiny.

 

The other party in the tripartite group responsible for corruption is the private sector. There are also cases where business operators or aspiring contractors offer bribes to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats to improve their advantage over other competitors. This has become a practice for many Thai businesses although some foreign firms doing business here have also adopted it.

 

These “extra benefits” have become so common for many public office holders and state officials that they feel something missing when they are not offered bribes. 

 

To fight the corruption cancer for a sustainable result, we should not just focus on any of the “legs” in this three-way problem. The cancer involving all three of them – politicians, bureaucrats and businesses – should be treated together at the same time.

 

Replacing the corrupt people in power will not help with the problem either. What we are likely to get is a new set of corrupt people in power.