Cornered – When the Law Becomes the Problem!!
A survey of over 400 business executives found that 60% encountered bribery demands from government agencies, with ten agencies collecting fees exceeding 100,000 baht per transaction. The private sector's unprecedented public exposure revea
The issue exploded onto the social radar when a joint private sector committee from three institutions released survey findings based on direct business experience. The revelation that ten government agencies collected fees exceeding 100,000 baht per transaction—scaling down to tens of thousands—immediately grabbed headlines.
While the specific figures for each agency and which departments were involved can be found in general news reports, it's no surprise that the implicated agencies responded by insisting on their transparency and integrity. Yet this flies in the face of public confidence. When people see this news, they're not shocked or startled—these practices have become so routine in daily life they're almost normalized.
Still, fairness demands that without clear evidence or formal complaints, we must give people the benefit of the doubt. Certainly, there are good civil servants, but when individuals behave inappropriately, they deserve criticism and a tarnished reputation. What's striking is why the private sector—usually submissive to government agencies—suddenly has the courage to expose such widespread abuses. Perhaps they've simply reached their breaking point.
When the economy is struggling and other costs are rising while under-the-table payments remain constant, business owners are trapped between a rock and a hard place. Fight back and face retaliation, or stay silent and wait for ruin.
The survey revealed other compelling findings. Among 401 business executives and private sector representatives surveyed, 60.9% encountered bribery demands when filing the most recent permit applications with government agencies. Nearly half had paid money, gifts, or other benefits to secure expedited processing.
The root cause? Laws that grant government agencies excessive discretionary power. Laws meant to create societal fairness have become tools for corruption and misconduct—truly darkly absurd. Critically, no one dares file complaints because they don't trust transparent investigations or fear the agency will make their work even harder. This is the reality playing out, whether anyone admits it or not.
