Abhisit to discuss governance
June 26, 2012

Former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been invited to deliver a speech on good governance and anti-corruption at an international congress in Penang on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters before leaving on a plane for Penang, Abhisit said he had been invited to make a speech to encourage all Asean countries to be aware of the need to ensure good governance and to fight corruption.

Abhisit said good governance and fighting corruption were needed because Asean would see fast economic expansion while democratic and good governance developments remain problematic in several countries.

Abhisit will deliver his address during the inaugural Conference of the Asean Coalition for Clean Governance, organised by the Penang Institute.

Abhisit said the conference was part of preparations by countries in the region for the Asean Economic Cooperation.

Abhisit, who is now opposition leader, is among several influential speakers, all from the Asean region, who will be hosted by the state government as part of its agenda to promote clean governance.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of Singapore told reporters that the speakers greatly influenced the course of governance in their respective nations.

"Abhisit is, of course, a strong proponent of good governance and opposes authoritarianism. He adheres to those principles," Lim said.

nationmultimedia.com