A proposed measure to encourage transparency by having new public servants declare their assets and liabilities is set to be assessed shortly.
Prayong Preeyajit, chief of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said the proposal, floated by a subcommittee under the National Committee for Anti-Corruption (NCAC), is aimed at new recruits to the public sector, but all officials will be subjected to it.
Under this proposed measure, state officials would have to electronically file their personal assets and liabilities when they join the civil service, get job promotions or change positions. Their assets would be periodically examined from then on.
It has yet to be determined what state agency will be responsible for examining the new recruits' assets.
The proposal is based on the hope that filing assets will ensure transparency and let authorities determine if officials have amassed wealth beyond their means.
Mr Prayong said the Civil Service Commission and Chulalongkorn University have been commissioned to assess the merits of the proposal, which has received support from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
According to Mr Prayong, Gen Prayut has ordered the authorities conducting the assessment to see if the measure has been used in other countries, and what type of impact it has made.
"The NCAC hasn't said when the study into this proposal should be completed by, but the prime minister wants a robust system to fight against corruption," he said. "Corruption takes place because of loopholes, so several measures are needed to prevent it."
Mr Prayong said the NCAC proposal differs from the work of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and PACC.
The NACC is responsible for examining the assets of political office holders and high-ranking officials as well as investigating any charges of corruption and fraud held against them.
Meanwhile, the PACC is tasked with assisting the NACC by investigating cases involving lower-level state officials.
Mr Prayong said the Electronic Government Agency has been asked to determine how to implement the electronic submission system that will be used to file assets and debts.
According to the PACC secretary-general, Gen Prayut has also assigned legal specialists to study the possibility of transferring the Centre for National Anti-Corruption (CNAC) to operate under the Prime Minister's Office.
The CNAC, which is currently under the supervision of the PACC, is the government's main mechanism in driving anti-corruption efforts.
Mr Prayong said the prime minister wants a central agency to implement the government's mandate and to ensure that all state agencies are moving in the same direction.
Meanwhile, it has also been proposed that the Department of Water Resources be moved to work under the PM's Office to allow for more efficiency in water management issues by putting all relevant agencies under one roof.
In the case of the Department of Water Resources, the law will be amended to authorise the transfer.
However, it remains unclear if the CNAC will be moved to the PM's Office.
Mr Prayong also said Gen Prayut has acknowledged the findings of a June report on corruption in Thailand, known as the Corruption Situation Index, which is produced by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The findings show that corruption could escalate with increased public spending, projecting that under-the-table payments in some projects could take up as much of 35% of project value.
Mr Prayong said that ongoing probes into corruption cases like the embezzlement of temple funds have made significant process.