Declarations of assets by lawmakers better late than never

Hidden in a corner of Saturday’s Page 2 is a report that is most pleasing. Thanks to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Administrative Court, we now know why those members of the National Legislative Assembly (a quasi-legislature) objected to the NACC order to disclose their personal assets. The members’ declarations – made after the court’s ruling – are in the range of Bt204 million to Bt838 million.

The disclosure was not limited to these nine, but extended to another 186 NLA members. Your sister Thai-language newspaper reported some of the figures, with Issara Wongkusolkit the richest at Bt5.2 billion. That’s no surprise, given that Issara is a significant shareholder and CEO of Banpu Plc and a leading industrialist. The lowest amount was Bt160,000, declared by 89-year-old Somporn Thepsitha, which also came as no surprise (he certainly has no concerns over inheritance tax). 

But in between there are plenty of surprises. The result is a great example of “transparency”. 

I look forward to the next disclosure of assets – by members of the Cabinet, due by the end of this month.

Songdej Praditsmanont