The Anti-Corruption Coordination Committee (ACCC) appointed Phra-don as chair of the subcommittee controlling corruption in the public sector. The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) is preparing to propose the 'One Department, One Transparency, No Grey Areas' initiative to the Cabinet, alongside measures to prevent corruption in civil service examinations.
At 11:40 a.m. on 23 July 2026 at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt announced after the first ACCC meeting of 2026 that the Prime Minister has ordered regular meetings to strengthen cooperation against corruption. The meeting resolved to establish a subcommittee to oversee bribery and corruption in government, chaired by Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Phra-don Prisananantakul, with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) joining as a member. Additionally, the committee proposed the 'One Department, One Transparency, No Grey Areas' project. The OPDC and ACCC agreed this should be submitted to the Cabinet for principle approval and further implementation.
Pakorn said the ACCC also agreed on measures to prevent corruption in civil service examinations, recognizing this as a serious issue that severely undermines the bureaucracy, not only at the local level. Therefore, specific measures and possibly legislation will be needed to address corrupt actors, users, and supporters, including promotions and appointments. The OPDC will propose this to the Cabinet, and the Office of the Council of State will draft the relevant laws. Additionally, public service standards will be enhanced to eliminate corruption by using technology, with the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) leading efforts to combat corruption.
The Deputy Prime Minister also discussed efforts to amend obstructive laws, noting progress on the new Facilitation Act, which now specifies applicable businesses, initially targeting hotels and coffee shops. Further reviews will identify necessary adjustments to subordinate legislation. He emphasized the government's firm commitment to comprehensively tackling corruption to prevent future problems for coming generations and pledged to do their best.
Meanwhile, Mr. Phot Aramwattananon, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Thai Chambers of Commerce, expressed satisfaction that the government and Prime Minister are seriously addressing this issue. He noted the ACCC's clear drive aligned with policy plans, especially the collaborative 'One Department, One Transparency, No Grey Areas' project with the OPDC, which he believes will be highly effective. He also highlighted the importance of publicizing the Facilitation Act clearly to citizens, private sector, and both Thai and foreign businesses, stressing that the Act facilitates not only economic activities but also public interactions with government agencies, clarifying how facilitation will be provided.
He added, “We appreciate the government's sincere commitment, with regular meetings. However, amending the Facilitation Act has been slow. It is necessary to first revise ministerial regulations or departmental rules to ensure real progress, especially under the REINVENT THAILAND initiative developed to work with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas as the economic driver. Unlocking legal facilitation will accelerate this initiative.” . . .
Ms. Onfa Vetchachiva, secretary-general of the OPDC, said the meeting also approved the 'One Department, One Transparency, No Grey Areas' project for each government unit to select high-risk services or processes for corruption, improve their approval procedures, and collaborate with anti-corruption organizations to identify and address risks. Agencies will report back on implemented changes to ensure concrete problem-solving. The project targets 335 government units and reflects the government’s genuine commitment to reform approval systems to prevent corruption and bribery in the public sector, expecting initial results within six months.
Mr. Mana Nimitmongkol, chair of the Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), expressed excitement about the collaborative data review among the private sector, citizens, and government. Over the past two months, ongoing discussions have built confidence in coordinated future efforts. He noted recent developments such as the Facilitation Act and the establishment of the anti-bribery and public sector corruption risk subcommittee, including open discussions about corruption in local civil service exams. He believes this awareness will widely reach Thai society, businesses, investors, media, and international organizations in Thailand, positively impacting Thailand’s Transparency Index assessment.