Fighting corruption and restoring trust in the rule of law are crucial for Thailand’s long-term competitiveness, experts said at a public forum organised by the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ).
The event on Wednesday, titled “Restoring Systemic Structures and Rule of Law to Strengthen National Competitiveness”, called for urgent reforms to build fairness, transparency, and greater efficiency across institutions.
Phiset Sa-ardyen, executive director of the TIJ, said the nation stands at a turning point in terms of defining fair societal rules.
“The rule of law is like a football field where fairness depends on clear rules, impartial referees and consequences for violations,” he explained.
Yet in practice, he noted, “those with power still enjoy privileges, while referees face pressure from inside and outside the field, eroding public faith in fairness”.
He said reform must extend beyond revising laws to restructuring power. A fair system requires balance among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent overreach and eliminate “special players” who act above the law.
“If built on trust, citizens will feel they are on the same team as the state,” he said.
Mr Phiset cited the World Justice Project (WJP) 2024 Index, which ranked Thailand 78th out of 142 countries with a score of 0.5 — below both global and regional averages.
Weaknesses included limited constraints on state powers, poor anti-corruption performance, and weak law enforcement.
He said the TIJ aims to act as a neutral “field keeper” through three missions: creating an inclusive platform to redesign national rules, developing a shared national blueprint with clear goals and indicators, and building partnerships with organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), WJP and UN to align Thai practices with international standards.
During the panel on “Institutional Mechanisms and National Competitiveness”, Prof Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, urged the government to create “reform momentum” within four months.
He said three priorities — anti-corruption, open government and regulatory reform — were already underway and only needed strong state backing.
He pointed to three obstacles: lengthy lawmaking processes averaging up to 20 months, difficulty repealing outdated laws, and public perception of taxation as a burden rather than a civic duty.
Cutting obstructive regulations, he said, could lift GDP by 0.8%. He proposed a “legal guillotine” to remove redundant laws within four months, alongside tax reform and incentives for compliance.
Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said foreign investors continue to criticise Thailand’s bureaucratic corruption, overlapping regulations, and political instability.
He urged constitutional safeguards for core national policies to ensure long-term consistency. “Corruption is the main obstacle to the rule of law and good governance. The chamber stands ready to cooperate with anti-corruption organisations,” he said.
Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, warned that Thailand faced global disruptions — from trade wars to currency volatility.
“If the rule of law is strong, the economy will grow. The government must urgently cut obstructive laws to reduce corruption risks,” he said.
Payong Srivanich, chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association, said recurring crises had weakened productivity, widened inequality, and pushed more workers into the informal sector.
“This stems from the absence of justice for all,” he said.
He urged the government to focus on five key sectors — tourism, agriculture and food, medical and wellness, automotive, and smart electronics — and to publicly disclose corruption indices across industries to drive accountability.
Mana Nimitmongkol, secretary-general of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, said corruption is entrenched in licensing, procurement and political patronage.
“Corruption has eroded public trust in justice, independent agencies, and the state. Thailand must strive to join the OECD to strengthen reform,” he said.