A poll reveals the top 10 state agencies receiving the highest bribes. The Prime Minister orders a crackdown on corruption, calling it a "stigma" that must be wiped from the image of public service.
On 15 May 2026, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke regarding the Joint Private Sector Committee's (JPSC) survey that identified the 10 state agencies with the highest bribery rates, firmly stating that no state agency should engage in such practices.
The Prime Minister said he has been informed by the private sector and immediately summoned the Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, a department under the Ministry of Interior, for questioning. Although the department currently focuses more on inspections than authorizations and public works units are spread across various sectors, he emphasized that the key issue is not the organizational structure but the need to completely eradicate corruption. He plans to bring this matter to the Cabinet meeting for directives to all ministries to closely monitor and resolve issues within their own agencies.
Regarding Thailand’s consistently low rankings on the corruption perception index, Anutin described it as a deeply ingrained "perception" that acts like a "stigma." Despite intensified governance and independent oversight in recent years, resulting in many offenders being punished, this stain must be removed. Today, with the presence of a "digital footprint," negative acts should not become ingrained in public consciousness as repeated corruption claims. Past practices created a poor precedent; from now on, these must be corrected and bad actions halted. The government is committed to seriously combating corruption to build confidence among the private sector and enhance the country’s image internationally.