Thread: New: Corruption in public health and education

New: Corruption in public health and education

Source: Politial Prisiners in Thailand has this to say about corruption in public health and in educaton.


PPT has recently posted on what we called “a case to watch.” The case we wrote of was headloined in the The Nation (28 September 2009: “Public health ministry to set up factfinding committee”). There is was reported that the government’s much-heralded “Thai Khemkaeng” (Strengthening Thailand) project was in trouble over corruption. This is the government’s headline stimulus program with almost 1.6 trillion baht to deliver, and with its own website.

The Nation (6 October 2009: “Minister’s advisers quit in wake of buying scandal”) now reports that each and every one of the eight advisers to Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai have resigned. This should be a huge story.

While they said that this was to allow the minister “a free rein to counter a scandal over the alleged rigging of purchases in a Bt86-billion project,” it is clear evidence of corruption.

Dr. Thawat Suntrajarn, one of the advisers stated: “We are uncomfortable with the scandal. We want to show we are by no means involved in the alleged irregularities.” This was in response to rumors that “close aides of Witthaya were colluding to profit from purchases planned under … Thai Khemkhaeng…”.

Meanwhile, “six officials from the Auditor General’s Office met yesterday with Dr Kamron Chaisiri, who oversees the project, to seek more information.”

Witthaya said he had no great knowledge about medical devices so that he had “to rely on senior public health officials and inspector generals….”.

Clearly Witthaya has been duped or is somehow involved. This is a potentially disastrous scandal for the Democrat Party and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is noticeably quiet.

In another report in the Nation (6 October 2009: “OBEC dismisses education corruption charges”) it is reported that the opposition sees and opening to weaken and tarnish the government. They have targeted the Thai KhemKaeng project in the Education Ministry.

Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit “claimed OBEC officials based in Nakhon Ratchasima had expressed suspicion about certain procurement deals.

Examples included promises of high priced auditoriums for schools requesting new buildings, while others were promised equipment – also highly priced – they did not want.”

The Ministry has blamed “school managements’ confusion over the process,” a claim also made in the sufficiency economy office scandal.

These remain stories to watch with interest.






So much for so called Mr clean Abhisit and his government need to borrow money.

And they all say Thaksin was bad

Wow, shocker....

Large sums of money

Politicians

Thailand.

= No brainer. Corruption every time.

Abhisit and Thaksin. Only their hairstyles are different....not by much, though.

Thai health minister quits in graft scandal
(Reporting by Chalathip Thirasoonthrukul; Writing by Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Martin Petty and Bill Tarrant)
Tuesday December 29, 2009

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Public Health Minister resigned on Tuesday after being implicated in a corruption scandal over a health care scheme funded under the government's $43 billion economic stimulus package.

It was the third ministerial resignation since the government took office a year ago and the latest setback for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is facing mounting pressure to dissolve parliament and call an election.


A file photo of Thailand's Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai at a news conference in Thailand, September 24, 2009.
Kaewparadai resigned on Tuesday after being implicated in a corruption scandal over a health care scheme funded under the government's $43 billion economic stimulus package.
(REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom/Files)

The departure of Witthaya Kaewparadai, a member of the ruling Democrat Party, may also lead to a cabinet reshuffle, which could further destabilise an uneasy military-backed coalition dogged by disunity and internal power struggles.

Witthaya stepped down after an investigation found he was negligent in his handling of a three-year, 86 billion baht ($2.57 billion) procurement project.

"I want to show responsibility to the public," Witthaya said in announcing his decision.

The panel recommended that Witthaya and his deputy, Manit Nopamornbodi, be disciplined for backing ministry plans to build facilities and buy medical equipment deemed unnecessary and grossly overpriced by local health officials.

The committee said nine unelected officials were also involved in the scandal involving the stimulus programme, implemented to speed up economic revival but also seen as a populist move to boost the government's popularity.

Abhisit is expected to forward the findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.

The opposition Puea Thai party, which backs exiled ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, intends to raise the issue during a censure debate early next year planned to coincide with anti-government rallies by the billionaire's "red shirt" supporters

thestar.com.my

Originally Posted by Mid

a member of the ruling Democrat Party

Only one tried and true method for stopping this stuff. Ban the Democratic party and for good measure ban 200 of their leading members from holding public office.

any precedent for that ?

Originally Posted by Mid

any precedent for that ?

Hold on. I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check.