Moral bastions or immoral b**tards?

In a study by the private-sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption, 48 per cent of 828 business leaders observed a two-year decline in the severity of corruption problems in Thailand. Forty-four per cent are confident that corruption could be wiped out in the future. Business leaders urge more investigations into corrupt politicians and civil servants and they are actively aware of their important role in anti-corruption efforts. But what about probing corrupt business leaders and directors?

This is glorious stuff, but which planet are we on? Who exactly are these angels of commercial and industrial righteousness, and where were they when we needed them most? Let’s have some names attached to their statements and assertions. Identities are essential here to give credence to the statistics. Transparency is key in the eradication of corruption and graft, and anonymity is of no help to anyone. The public would truly appreciate an opportunity to judge for itself whether it’s being “served” by moral bastions or immoral bastards.

As it stands, this report is the best piece of published humour in years. Had major corporate executives succeeded in their own corrupt attempts to have me muzzled and prosecuted for defamation, I would already have fallen out of my prison-cell bed (if there are such things at the “Bangkok Hilton”) in uncontrollable mirth.

John Shepherd