Bangkok: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working with the Active Action and Strategy (ACT) to implement seven key initiatives aimed at transforming Bangkok into a model city for combating corruption.
According to Thai News Agency, Governor Chatchart Sittipunt announced the initiatives following a meeting with the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT). The meeting, attended by Dr. Mana Nimitmongkol, Chairman of ACT, and other key stakeholders, took place at the Sri Chulathap Building in Pathum Wan district. Governor Chatchart emphasized the importance of consulting with ACT to determine the direction for combating corruption, which he identified as the most significant issue facing Thailand. He remarked that addressing corruption is crucial for the country's progress and noted the increasing public awareness on this issue.
During the meeting, ACT provided seven new recommendations for the BMA, which include protecting citizens who report corruption, enhancing transparency in procurement processes, and improving the civil service system's efficiency. Governor Chatchart assured that the BMA would implement all seven recommendations and continue discussions to achieve tangible outcomes. He highlighted that inefficient bureaucracy is a form of corruption that needs to be addressed to optimize the use of public resources.
Dr. Mana expressed gratitude to Governor Chatchart and BMA executives for engaging with ACT to find solutions to the enduring problem of corruption. He acknowledged the progress made by the BMA over the past four years in responding to public demands for a corruption-free environment. With Governor Chatchart's re-election, Dr. Mana introduced seven additional measures, emphasizing the importance of protecting citizens from lawsuits by those in power.
ACT commended the BMA's progress in transparency and anti-corruption efforts, particularly its performance in information disclosure under the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST). In fiscal year 2025, Bangkok achieved an 89.45% transparency rating, a marked improvement from the previous year's 68.62%, making it the leading organization in budget savings among special local administrative bodies.
The proposed guidelines by ACT for a "Corruption-Free Bangkok" include a commitment from the BMA not to prosecute whistleblowers, automated information disclosure, and the use of ACT AI to assess procurement risks. Additionally, companies involved in BMA projects must agree to transparency conditions. The guidelines also address community grievances, such as entertainment venue licenses and the fraudulent EIA processes, and propose increasing government officials' income, enhancing IT usage in public services, and optimizing personnel levels.