Bangkok: The Pollution Control Department (PCD) held a heated press conference following a poll by the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) which ranked the department as the top agency for receiving the highest levels of bribery. During the press conference, the department demanded that the JSCCIB release evidence, including survey methodologies and all relevant documents, within seven days.
According to Thai News Agency, the survey was conducted by the Joint Committee of Three Private Sector Institutions (JCCR), the Zero Corruption Working Group, and its allies. It revealed that nearly 90% of businesses view corruption as a moderate to significant obstacle to their operations. The survey ranked the Highway Police and Traffic Police as the top agencies in terms of frequency of bribery contacts, while the PCD topped the list for the highest average bribe values per transaction, with 102,160 baht offered per transaction.
This morning, the PCD, led by Director-General Mr. Surin Worakitthamrong, along with deputy directors-general and executives, reaffirmed their commitment to being a "transparent organization." They have sent an open letter to Mr. Poj Aramwattananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and other involved individuals, requesting information and relevant documents from the poll.
Mr. Surin emphasized that the PCD does not have the authority to approve or issue licenses for business operations, thus lacking mechanisms to facilitate illicit bribery. He also pointed out the discrepancy between the reported average bribe figure and the actual fines, which range from approximately 15,000 to 60,000 baht.
The PCD stressed that if the poll lacks supporting data or evidence, its disclosure could affect public trust and the morale of officials. The department called for those involved to take responsibility for the damage caused by providing a formal clarification or public apology.