Thailand ranked 104th among 180 countries surveyed, down from 101st a year earlier, with an overall score of 36 out of 100. The higher the ranking the greater the perception of corruption, and the lower the score, the higher the perception of corruption. Although there have been minor changes, Thailand’s ratings on Transparency International’s Corruptions Perceptions Index (“TPI”) remain poor. Thailand tied with Vietnam for 1o4th place.
Genuine discussion and debate about Thailand’s corruption problems is discouraged. Those who should serve as compliance gate keepers, cynically make disparaging comments about compliance and corruption.
Whistleblowing is discouraged and retaliatory measures are common. Witness the large number of criminal defamation lawsuits filed against whistleblowers and reporters. Even large institutions that should know better, such as major international law firms that my publicly preach compliance, discourage whistleblowing in practice, paternalistically labelling it a “sensitive” issue. Many changes are required to change Thailand’s compliance landscape, but until this changes, corruption will remain a problem for Thailand. No one is doing Thailand or Thais any favours by discouraging whistleblowing and a frank and honest discussion of the corruptions challenges Thailand faces.