The Prime Minister called for good governance and transparency in the public sector, saying it is shameful—like being slapped by the people—after Thailand’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranked last in ASEAN and globally. He instructed the Ministry of Interior and local administrations to urgently strengthen anti-corruption systems as a top policy priority.
At 10:30 a.m. on 31 March 2026, at the Sapphire Room, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening of a workshop on integrating efforts to promote good governance and proactive transparency in public agencies under the 2026 fiscal year project to drive a proactive anti-corruption surveillance system. Present were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Atthasit Sampanrat, Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Phumvisarn Kasemsuk, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior for Administration Chotinrin Kerdsom, Director-General of the Community Development Department Siam Sirimongkol, Director-General of the Provincial Administration Department Narucha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning Phongnara Yenying, Director-General of the Department of Local Administration Theerut Supaviboonpol, governors of all 76 provinces, public agency executives, and relevant officials.
The Prime Minister stated that Thailand still faces worrisome levels of corruption. In every public opinion poll, corruption remains a top concern, indicating that the problem has not been effectively resolved. This is reflected in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which urgently needs improvement. A key cause is that some public officials lack a sense of duty and misuse their positions for improper gain. The system also has loopholes that allow corruption, compounded by insufficient genuine collaboration across all sectors.
He said the Ministry of Interior, being close to the people, is well aware of complaints and the impact of corruption and misconduct by public officials, especially regarding approvals, permits, issuance of legal documents, and public services, as well as continuing corruption in public procurement processes. These issues undermine the country’s budget, efficiency, and public trust. Therefore, all agencies must honestly confront this challenge and prioritize raising standards of integrity and transparency by reviewing redundant procedures, improving public services to be faster, more transparent, and fair, and reducing face-to-face encounters between officials and citizens by leveraging information technology and artificial intelligence. These efforts must be combined with enhancing monitoring, auditing, evaluation, and enabling public access to government information that is clear, understandable, and verifiable. When government systems are transparent and accountable, opportunities for corruption and abuse of power decrease accordingly.
The Prime Minister emphasized an urgent policy directive for all agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including local governments nationwide, to tighten anti-corruption prevention systems by implementing measures to prevent bribery in approval, permitting, issuance of documents, and public procurement processes. This must include rigorous internal controls that go beyond formalities to achieve real results. The key goal is zero corruption and bribery in government agencies, aligning with the master plan’s strategic objective to raise Thailand’s CPI score.
He noted that the CPI is not merely a statistical figure but a crucial indicator reflecting the country’s image, investor confidence, and global competitiveness. The latest assessment showed Thailand scored 33 points in the previous year, ranking 116th out of 182 countries and 8th in ASEAN—placing it near the bottom regionally and globally. As Thais, this is shameful. Addressing corruption and improving the CPI cannot succeed without genuine cooperation from all sectors. Such cooperation must arise not from endless regulations but from fostering an organizational culture that values integrity. Punishment alone is insufficient; personnel who demonstrate honesty or contribute to anti-corruption efforts should be recognized and promoted as role models. This will enable effective and tangible anti-corruption measures to be developed and implemented swiftly.
“As civil servants and Thais, this is a shameful matter. I have had the opportunity to discuss this issue withthe Secretary-General of the PACC.I told him this is unacceptable; it diminishes Thailand’s standing. When negotiating trade or dialogues at the national level, if others perceive our country as corrupt, dealing with corrupt officials, we lose all leverage or advantage. Personally, I do not believe all Thai civil servants are corrupt; otherwise, we would not have reached this point. I once askedthe Secretary-General of the PACChow the CPI is measured. The answer was that the issue lies in Thailand’s image. I believe we all feel we are not as corrupt as perceived, but the system causes this perception. Recognizing this, we must address the root cause. Therefore, the PACC Secretary-General must elevate the CPI score first to build confidence among citizens. Civil servants and government agencies must demonstrate tangible improvements,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that when he deals with public agencies, many know he prefers not to use privileges but to do things normally. For example, when renewing his pilot’s license, he waited in line like everyone else for over a month, with no fast-tracking allowed. Judging by speech and manners, he trusts the officials involved are unlikely to be corrupt or extort money. Most people here would agree that civil servants are genuinely committed to serving the public and nation with integrity. Therefore, the public should see them not as bosses but as service providers entitled to fair treatment as citizens. If everyone adjusts their mindset accordingly, it would be like the saying about hot water and fish: hot water harms fish, cold water kills fish. The CPI reflects public response to us; a low CPI is like being slapped—meaning public dissatisfaction. I don’t believe millions of civil servants cause nationwide dissatisfaction. I urge everyone to use this seminar to find ways to improve public satisfaction so CPI results reflect positively. If CPI remains low, we cannot operate effectively. Thailand aims to join the OECD and must perform well on the global stage. A low CPI forces us to spend much effort explaining ourselves, causing many negative effects if not addressed.”
He concluded that such cooperation requires building an organizational culture that values integrity and good governance. It must not focus only on punishing wrongdoers but also on honoring honest personnel and those combating corruption, enabling their career advancement and serving as role models for future generations. He has high expectations that this meeting will lead to effective, tangible anti-corruption measures implemented promptly. He urged everyone to work proactively and enjoy fighting corruption, which is disgraceful and harmful. The government and he are fully supportive of all efforts to maximize anti-corruption effectiveness and establish a new cultural standard so that all civil servants can be proud of their service.