Corruption might be a problem after all

VOICE TV HOST Nattakorn “Khun Pleum” Devakula surprised everyone by issuing an apology for remarks he made on his “Daily Dose” show on January 13, when he boldly stated that “corruption is not obstructing development in Thailand”.
“I am sorry to those who trust me and those close to me, viewers and the general public,” Khun Pleum said on Monday, more than a month after he made his controversial statement.
Khun Pleum’s views were like dry kindling on the voracious bonfire of the social media. On Facebook, folks were having a blast making graphics of Khun Pleum’s mugshot and his quote, and turning it around to use against him, asking “how can corruption not be the problem in this country?”
Critics also linked Khun Pleum’s opinion to his workplace, Voice TV, which is owned by Panthongtae “Oak” Shinawatra.
His apology sparked a new round of discussions on the social networks, with folks speculating that he made a U-turn because of the weakening status of the government while others posited that the newsman wanted to move to another channel.
On Tuesday, Khun Pleum reaffirmed his new stance as a guest on “Nation Midnight”.
“Why apologise now?” Nation TV host Noppajak Attanon asked.
“I reviewed my work. I believed I made a mistake and I regret it,” Khun Pleum said.
Did he really make a U-turn as Facebook commenters allege? Khun Pleum said no but conceded he might have been focused too much on anti-coup issues and not enough on doing his job as a watchdog. He vowed to start looking critically at the government and corruption.
Did he ever discuss issues with his economist dad ML Pridiyathorn, who has been rather outspoken about corruption and the failure of the government’s rice scheme?
Khun Pleum said he did talk to his father and watched him criticise the rice scheme on TV. He said he learned from his father although they have different stands.
He said from now on he would show more responsibility in his reporting.
“I am getting older now and I think it is not right to incite but I should give the public some food for thought.”
In short, Khun Pleum wants to be another neutral voice and not give any opinions that may benefit either side of the conflict.
He assured Noppajak that even though he works at Voice TV, he has never been told what he can and cannot say.
“I have worked at many news media outlets, both newspapers and TV channels. There is no place where the owner comes to dictate what you have to say,” he said.
After the show, Pleum tweeted the video link of his interview on Nation TV. He told his fans that he has said enough and that it’s time to get to work.
Well, action speaks louder than words. And maybe Khun Pleum’s “Daily Dose” will get an even better rating if he sticks to his vow to scrutinise the government. Stay tuned.