Bangkok: The Cabinet has approved measures to combat bribery of government officials, assigning the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as the lead agency to implement the initiative. A report must be submitted within 30 days before being presented to the next Cabinet meeting.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Cabinet meeting acknowledged the measures to prevent corruption in cases of bribery, as proposed by the NACC, in eight points. These include expediting the implementation of a 20-year strategy for preventing and suppressing corruption, promoting and supporting agencies responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption, and disclosing government information to promote public participation.
Further points involve establishing policies to expedite and promote legal reforms, improving work processes to prevent the risk of corruption, developing the information technology system of government agencies for approval and licensing, promoting and supporting the private sector in opposing bribery, and campaigning to promote the value of honesty and instill awareness in combating corruption.
The NACC has been designated as the primary agency to drive this initiative, coordinating with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Budget Bureau, the Comptroller General's Department, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, the Royal Thai Police, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and other government and private sector organizations.
The Office of the NACC is required to summarize the findings and overall results of the investigation and submit them to the Cabinet Secretariat within 30 days of receiving the notification, for presentation to the Cabinet for further consideration. Ms. Ratchada stated that these measures can effectively address the chronic problem of bribery in Thai society, contributing to a better image for the country and boosting investor confidence both domestically and internationally.