Bangkok: The government, in collaboration with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and networks from all sectors, is mobilizing Thai power to fight corruption on International Anti-Corruption Day (Thailand) 2025. The government emphasizes that citizens are a crucial force in driving honesty and integrity to become a sustainable culture in Thai society, and pledges protection for whistleblowers. The NACC unveiled a three-pronged plan to address bribery and conflicts of interest.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, presided over the International Anti-Corruption Day (Thailand) 2025 event, held under the theme "HERO OF THE TRUTH: Join Us in Stopping Corruption." The event was organized by the government in collaboration with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), and other partners to declare their commitment to combating all forms of corruption.
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul stated that tackling corruption requires cooperation from all sectors, as it is not a distant issue but a threat that undermines the nation's future. He emphasized the crucial role of every citizen as a vital force in protecting the country, and the government pledged that "those who bravely reveal the truth must be protected, not punished," in order to build a culture of honesty and integrity as a foundation for Thai society, leading to a transparent and sustainable future. He also expressed a firm commitment to combating corruption in three key areas:
1. Demonstrating a commitment by leaders at all levels to prevent and suppress corruption.
2. Empower all groups of Thai people to be aware of and reject corruption in all its forms.
3. Demonstrate Thailand's commitment to the global community in improving its Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score to above 50, in line with the 20-year national strategic plan. According to the latest data from 2024, Transparency International ranks Thailand at 107th globally and 5th in ASEAN with a score of only 34 - the lowest in many years. This reflects challenges in transparency, the country's image, and the impact of corruption, which poses significant obstacles to investor confidence and sustainable national growth.
Mr. Suchart Trakulkesemsuk, Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), stated that throughout 2025, the NACC saw a 12% increase in corruption complaints, mostly related to abuse of power and procurement irregularities. However, this also highlights the growing awareness and willingness of citizens to report corruption and their intolerance of a lack of transparency in Thai society. Therefore, the NACC is vigorously pursuing its integrated anti-corruption plan. By fiscal year 2027, the goal is to elevate the country's transparency level, targeting a CPI score of 57. This will focus on addressing bribery and conflicts of interest through three main approaches: instilling honesty in citizens, children, youth, and government officials through curriculum and systemic anti-corruption campaigns utilizing technology; reducing discretionary power in opening government data; and prosecuting corruption cases with high standards, speed, and transparency, aiming for clear and tangible results for the publ ic.
Furthermore, there are legal measures in place to protect whistleblowers, including the Witness Protection Act in Criminal Cases and the Anti-SLAPP Law. There is also technology to support the investigation and prevention of corruption, such as the Moral Data Center (MDC) system, which transparently links data from government agencies for immediate verification. A National Corruption Deterrence Center (CDC) has been established to quickly combat corruption and effectively monitor, investigate, and detect corruption in large-scale projects.