The Secretary of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) revealed that Thailand's efforts to join the OECD have advanced greatly. He said Poland is fully supporting Thailand's membership bid but public awareness remains lacking. He pointed out that the large number of prosecutions against corrupt government officials is a clear test of sincerity and commitment.
At 10:05 a.m. on 21 Sep 2026 GMT+7, at the Government House, Mr. Poomvisarn Kasemsuk, Secretary of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), spoke before meeting Mr. Pradorn Prissanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, about progress in joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He said all 25 subcommittees have made significant progress, with the Prime Minister urging accelerated public communication. The subcommittee on Anti-Bribery and Public Sector Corruption Risks, chaired by Minister Pradorn, has advanced so far it can almost be considered successful. However, public communication is lacking, so the public remains unaware and still doubts the government's commitment. He said intensifying outreach to inform the public of progress would boost confidence among investors, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople—both Thai and foreign—who are key stakeholders in matters such as OECD accession and the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The PACC office has made substantial strides. Mr. Poomvisarn also met with Poland's Deputy Minister, discussing support including scholarships and training grants to develop personnel. Poland affirmed strong support for Thailand's OECD membership. Feedback from the private sector shows growing understanding and a positive shift; although some previously felt progress was slow, the reality is far more advanced, hindered only by communication gaps causing negative perceptions.
When asked whether recent investigations and arrests of numerous corrupt government officials would affect Thailand's OECD membership bid, Mr. Poomvisarn responded positively, seeing it as a demonstration of the government's sincerity and seriousness in solving problems. Previously, the PACC received a fair number of complaints, but after enforcing laws in collaboration with related agencies—including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Royal Thai Police, and the Office of the Auditor General—the public now knows their complaints are heard. As the Prime Minister said, identities are kept confidential, encouraging many complaints which provide valuable information. This is beneficial and the time has come to take concrete action. Complaints continue to come into the PACC as people gain confidence to report, knowing that complaints lead to law enforcement and punishment of offenders. The PACC strives to impose criminal, administrative, and disciplinary penalties comprehensively to show that public grievances are addressed and offenders are punished. This demonstrates the government's earnestness in resolving issues and builds trust.
The Secretary of PACC stated that today they focus on three principles: show, implement, and achieve. 'Show' means demonstrating to the public that when people suffer hardships, the government will intervene and solve problems. 'Implement' means professionally integrating efforts across all related agencies. 'Achieve' means the public receives positive outcomes from their complaints, which stimulates and motivates further problem-solving.