Thailand's Corruption Situation Index stands at 39 points

BANGKOK, January 16 (TNA) - The Thai Corruption Situation Index stood at 39 points in December 2013, from 41 points in its previous survey in June 2013. Thanawat Polvichai, Director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, under Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, told journalists of the development on Thursday, noting that the updated figure resulted from a latest survey among local business operators, government officials and the general public in December 2013. Thanawat said the surveyed business operators, who do business with the public sector, revealed that they had to bribe corrupt government officials and politicians to secure their projects, with the kickbacks accounting for 25-35 per cent of their project prices. Thanawat assessed that substantial bribery could cut Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.6-2.8 per cent. To stop corruption, the lion's share, or 30 per cent, of the respondents viewed that solutions need to begin with Thai politicians, followed by government officials and business operators. Besides, most of the respondents suggested that people are allowed to participate in corruption examinations and details of projects are to be publicly disclosed and laws are to be amended to impose harsh punishments on corrupt people. Meanwhile, another survey for the Corruption Perceptions Index worldwide last year found that Thailand was ranked the 102nd position, among 177 countries probed, compared with the country's 88th place in 2012.(TNA)