Bangkok: The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has reiterated its willingness to undergo investigations into allegations of corruption, while expressing concerns over a recent survey by the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) that depicted the department as having the highest bribery rate among government agencies.
According to Thai News Agency, the PCD highlighted that the survey results are based on subjective perceptions from a limited sample size, raising questions about the research methodology's capacity to accurately rank government entities or depict the broader corruption landscape in the country.
Dr. Surin Vorakitthamrong, Director-General of the PCD, disclosed findings from his analysis of the JSCCIB's survey, which claimed an average bribe offer amounting to 102,160 baht per instance within the department. Following this revelation, the PCD promptly organized a national executive meeting and reached out to the JSCCIB on May 15, 2026, seeking clarity on the data sources, verification methods, and additional evidence to facilitate a thorough investigation into potential corrupt practices by PCD officials.
In response, the JSCCIB provided a letter on May 22, 2026, detailing the principles and methodology behind their survey, along with supporting documents like a summary of the survey approach, sample questionnaires, and public press release records. Dr. Surin emphasized that the PCD is open to comprehensive investigations, as corruption deeply impacts economic health, investment climates, and public trust. Should any officials be implicated, the department commits to stringent disciplinary actions. Moreover, a dedicated working group has been tasked with reviewing operational guidelines to prevent corruption, particularly in areas prone to power misuse and law enforcement against pollution sources.
Dr. Surin stressed that the JSCCIB survey results are "perception-based data," reflecting respondents' feelings or experiences rather than verified facts, thereby making them unsuitable for definitive conclusions about organizational corruption. His review of the JSCCIB documents revealed methodological concerns, such as the inadequate classification of government agencies into only five groups and the limited survey of 26 out of 162 departmental-level agencies. Furthermore, the use of outdated questionnaire design and a small sample size of 401 individuals over a short period were cited as limitations affecting the survey's reliability.
The PCD also pointed out issues with the survey's question design, which included leading questions and variations between online and in-person formats. The JSCCIB's own clarification acknowledged that the survey's confidence level and margin of error should serve as general references rather than precise indicators at the agency level.
The PCD has a history of collaboration with the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to implement a Corruption Risk Management System (CRMS), achieving an "excellent" rating for three years in a row. The department is now focused on upgrading its operational manual to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to minimize staff discretion and improve transparency.
Dr. Surin reiterated the PCD's commitment to fact-finding through fair processes and cautioned against forming conclusions based on subjective data with methodological limitations. He also advised the public to be vigilant against impersonators or fraudulent claims of PCD test results used to solicit bribes, urging individuals to report suspicious activities through official channels.