Bangkok: Independent scholar Kasemsan Veerakul analyzed the issue of corruption in Thailand on the "Good Morning ASEAN" program on MCOT NEWS FM 100.5. He highlighted Thailand's increasingly severe and chronic corruption crisis, reflected in the latest Corruption Perception Index, where Thailand scored only 34 out of 100, ranking 107th globally. He noted that over the past 30 years, under 12 different prime ministers, none have truly solved the problem, directly impacting foreign investor confidence, leading to inefficient use of public funds, and even contributing to the PM2.5 air pollution problem.

According to Thai News Agency, an examination of the anti-corruption policies of most political parties reveals a lack of clear practical implementation methods. They often focus only on popular policies such as increasing the death penalty for those who embezzle more than 100 million baht, or proposing the use of Open Data systems and digital government. However, no party has yet outlined a concrete plan for achievable police or bureaucratic reform.

Furthermore, Professor Kasemsan cited examples from other countries to clearly demonstrate that relying solely on strong individuals or leaders cannot create sustainability if the system is not robust. He cited the successful Hong Kong model, which emphasizes the principle of "prevention before prevention," meaning decisive punishment to build public trust. Meanwhile, the South Korean model, with a similar patronage culture to Thailand, employs three main strategies: an "infiltration" strategy rewarding whistleblowers, severe punishment even for minor fraud, and prohibiting retired civil servants from serving as consultants in companies that have previously benefited or harmed them.

In summary, the key conclusion is that Thailand's independent organizations, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), still prioritize prevention over suppression. What Thailand needs is a system of accountability, such as setting a one-year timeframe for concluding anti-corruption cases, with immediate reporting of delays to parliament and the public. This would help restore public trust and safeguard national interests in the long term.