Participants to the Anti-Corruption Day event hosted by the AntiCorruption Organisation of Thailand. (ACT). (Photo: nationthailand.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Prime Minister SretthaThavisin on September 7 said that the government will introduce e-paymentsin the state sector as a key measure to combat corruption.
Chairing the opening of an Anti-Corruption Day event hosted bythe AntiCorruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), Srettha emphasised thatbattling graft is one of the government's top priorities.
The event was the first public forum he had addressed since becomingprime minister.
According to Srettha, Thailand was ranked 4th among Aseancountries behind Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam on the Corruption PerceptionsIndex last year.
He said as those countries are Thailand's direct competitors,the nation needs to improve itself as corruption will undermine confidence amonginvestors and will harm the country's GDP.
To eradicate graft, the government is looking to procuretechnology to digitalise the way it conducts business for greater transparencyin state administration.
The PM emphasised that the country will speed up revision ofthe laws to rein in bribery and will swiftly deal with graft offenders.
In addition, it will also keep a close watch on senior stateofficials who must declare records of their assets, which are accessible for viewing by thegeneral public, he said.
He said technology can boost transparency, particularlye-payments which will be used in the state sector in lieu of cash for easytraceability.
Applications for state licences will be submitted via onlinechannels, he added./.
