The corruption situation in Thailand continued to improve in December last year as indicated by the semi-annual index compiled by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The index was at 55 in December last year, the highest level in six years, compared to 49 in the same month of 2014. The higher the index is, the less corruption.
However, in its Corruption Perceptions Index 2015, Transparency International said last week Thailand placed 76th among 168 countries, tied with such nations as Burkina Faso, Tunisia and Zambia. While the country's relative ranking improved from 85th place last year, its score of 38 remained the same, marking no improvement by the government or private sector in curbing graft.
The latest UTCC corruption situation index (Thai CSI) released on Tuesday showed the rate of extra money paid by private operators to officials and politicians so they could win state contracts fell to a range between 1% and 15% on average of project value in December last year compared to a range between 5% and 15% in December 2014.
The index, based on surveys held twice each year in June and December, showed more than half of the respondents were happy with the performance of the key anti-corruption body.
The December 2015 survey found 55% of the respondents thought the National Anti-Corruption Commission was efficient while 28% said it was moderately efficient and 9% felt it was inefficient.
The top priority for the government to further tackle corruption was to seriously enforce laws and apply grave punishments; build a system that allows public participation in checking project transparency; and create transparency in politics.
The survey was conducted on 2,400 people, the largest group of whom was those aged 30-39. Of the total, 50.9% were people, 25.1% state officials and 24% private operators.
By region, 29.7% were in Bangkok, followed by those in the Northeast (23.3%), North (16.8%), East (11.9%) and Central and West (9.4%).