Anutin Discusses Anti-Corruption Crackdown, Dismisses CPI Index, Says Report Corruption Cases to NACC and NCPO

At 9:00 AM on May 20, 2025 at Phakdi Bodin Building, Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as Interior Minister, chaired an integrated public-private sector cooperation meeting to strengthen anti-corruption prevention and suppression efforts, with relevant agencies participating.

The Prime Minister stated that today's meeting represents integrated cooperation between the public and private sectors to enhance anti-corruption prevention. The government acknowledges public concerns based on private sector surveys regarding transparency in government operations by the Joint Private Sector Committee with Three Institutions (CPR). As the head of government and those managing state agencies, he deemed it appropriate to listen to and analyze their additional views to find solutions and continue combating corruption.

The PM emphasized that the government is seriously committed to addressing structural problems, including reforming approval and licensing processes to promote transparency and reduce corruption risks in all forms, accelerating obsolete law reforms, and strengthening Thailand's anti-corruption image domestically and internationally.

Recently, he ordered the establishment of an anti-corruption coordination committee to coordinate cooperation among all sectors for concrete results and to improve the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), though he expressed disagreement with the approach.

Regarding the public sector, he has instructed all agencies to implement policies enhancing transparency in government operations, while requesting strict compliance with relevant laws and regulations. He called for all agencies to adopt modern innovations and technology to ensure transparency and open disclosure of operational information to the public.

The PM noted he had previously been on the side of information requesters, where some requests were granted while others were denied with exceptions. He instructed Deputy PM Phakarun Niyamprapen that if opening data, it should be fully open with no restrictions. Since laws already exist permitting public disclosure, obsolete laws with exemptions must be reformed rather than selectively opening certain information.

This prompted his criticism of the CPI index, which he discussed with the NCPO Secretary-General. If anyone believes a civil servant or prime minister has committed fraud, they need not rely on such metrics but should report to the NACC, NCPO, PPRP, courts, or supervisory agencies with evidence, as criminals inevitably leave traces. He believes the emphasis should be case-by-case, expecting public support and information to trace corruption to its roots, rather than relying on survey-based measurements.