Thaksin Vows To Be Fierce On Corruption

[Jai Dee]

CORRUPTION: PM: We’ll be fierce in Year of Dog

Promises to get tough with corrupt officials; swears off ‘playing politics’. The Year of the Dog has special significance for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who yesterday warned provincial governors he was embarking on a campaign to punish corrupt officials. “This year is the Year of the Dog. [The government] will be fierce [with corrupt officials], very fierce. Do not say that I have not warned you. I will take action against whoever is involved with secret corrupt schemes,” he said.

Over 400 ministers, permanent secretaries and provincial governors attended Thaksin’s address at Government House.

The government has formed a special anti-corruption task force to check graft charges in certain places, he said. “Some places take 10 per cent as graft money, some businessmen told me,” he said.

To curb the vice, the government will organise “e-auctions [electronic auctions]”. A simulated e-auction will be demonstrated on February 1.

“It will not have bidding through the Internet as that will not prevent collusion,” he said. “We will have a station for auctions to be carried out face-to-face,” he said.

He urged provincial governors to come to him if any influential people harass them. “All provincial projects will see a 40-per-cent improvement if there is no corruption or red tape,” he said.

Thaksin conceded his bid to infuse a CEO-form of administration had failed because governors could not translate strategies into action. The meeting yesterday analysed how they could achieve success, he said.

Thaksin said he would stop “playing politics” over the next two years to focus on his duties before preparing for the next general election in 2009.

“Whoever wants to play politics may play. Play to your heart’s content. [but] I will not. I will concentrate on performing my duties or I cannot defeat poverty. In the last half of 2009, I will focus on politics because of the upcoming general election,” he said.

Thaksin also told Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak that he was unhappy with the pace of economic reforms.

He said reform plans had been further delayed and the result could be a lower GDP. He gave Somkid three months to deliver “effective economic reforms”.

Source: The Nation - January 07, 2006

[johnh101]

If he is serious this will be fun to watch him running around in circles chasing his own tail.

And in the year of the Dog.....how apt !

[Nam Kao]

This will be a dog chasing its own tail

[sierra01]

Same as same as. He's good at promises, very short on action. In the case of corruption very short indeed.

[penzman]

Corruption will still be allowed in his entourage but if you're outside that zone, as happened with Picnic, you lose. Same old same old...

[stumonster]

Thaksin conceded his bid to infuse a CEO-form of administration had failed because governors could not translate strategies into action.

put the blame on others when things are not going to plan - what a leader

[sonthaya]

This will be a dog chasing its own tail

Yes, and he'll never catch it.

[Phil Conners]

Amazing Thailand again. What a joke!

[englishoak]

Same old song and dance