The Thai private sector’s damning report on the ten most corrupt state agencies has sent a shockwave through the government bureaucracy, prompting immediate reactions, from Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to the director general of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), who has demanded to see evidence of the alleged bribe taking.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking and the Zero Corruption Organisation have listed the ten most corrupt agencies, with the PCD being placed on top of the list.
PCD Director-General Surin Worakijthamrong called an urgent press conference at the department this morning to deny the allegation and to demand evidence of the alleged corruption within seven days, adding that he has already sent an open letter addressed to the president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the vice president of the Federation of Thai Industries, the secretary-general of the Thai Bankers Association, the rector of Thai Chamber of Commerce University and the head of Anti-Corruption Thailand.
He said that the private sector’s report has undermined public trust in the PCD, as he claimed that the department has no power whatsoever to grant a license to a private firm or to order a firm to be shut down.
The main responsibility of the department is to respond to complaints of pollution or contamination of the environment by a factory and to carry out an investigation, he said, adding that, if it is proved that pollutants have been discharged into the environment from a factory, the culprit would be given 90-120 days to rectify the situation. Failing that they would be fined 2,000 baht a day, but the cumulative amount would not exceed 30,000 baht with the maximum amount of fine cannot be more than 60,000 baht.
Surin said that he doubts the credibility of the private sector’s evidence and the methodology employed in the gathering of information pertaining to the alleged corruption.
He promised, however, that if it can be proved that any officials in his department have demanded bribes he would not hesitate to take punitive action against them.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat said today that he will summon a meeting with the heads of the Highways, Marine and Land Transport departments for explanations about the alleged corruption alleged.
Both the Marine and Highways departments are listed among the ten most corrupt agencies by the private sector.
Marine Department Director-General Kritpetch Chaichuay said the department provides services to more than 200,000 people each year and that more than 80% of its services are provided electronically, especially registration of vessels.
