Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he would assign the Justice Ministry and anti-corruption directorate centre to study the reasons for Thailand's low score, suggest fixes and report on any progress they make. When asked about the luxury watch scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and whether this would have affected Thailand's score, Mr Wissanu said he thought that unlikely. Bandid Nijathaworn, secretary-general of Thailand's Private Sector Collective Action Coalition against Corruption, welcomed the new score and ranking. "The private sector also has a key role in applying good corporate governance principles and being part of the solution," he said. The public sector must also streamline processes and reduce large discretionary powers granted to officers, which could leave the system open to bribery.

Source: Bangkok Post February 22, 2018 21:56 UTC