The memorandum of understanding signed on May 22 by the eight parties hoping to form a governing coalition sets forth an ambitious reform agenda, including "push for reform of the bureaucracy, police, armed forces and justice system" and to "promote a culture of transparency to tackle corruption".

They have their work cut out for them.

"The core of society is corrupt," former politician Chuvit Kamolvisit says on the new Bangkok Post podcast, Deeper Dive.

"I believe every country has corruption when they start. But I never see any country that as time passes by, the corruption is more, is more, is more, like Thailand."

RELATED

If anyone knows about corruption, it's Mr Chuvit. As the owner of a string of soapy massage parlours in the 1990s and early 2000s -- the ab ob nuat (massage parlour) complexes that are actually fronts for prostitution, which is against the law -- he claims to have paid the police monthly bribes to the tune of 3 million baht to stay open.

After selling the seedy side of his business empire, Mr Chuvit began a career in politics as an anti-corruption campaigner, twice serving as a member of parliament. Although his days as a politician have passed, he's been back in the headlines since late 2022 with allegations of high-profile graft.

In February, he identified "Inspector Sua" as the former senior police officer behind a network of online gambling sites. Pol Lt Col Wasawat Mukurasakul and 18 associates have fled abroad, while 57 people have been...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJhbmdrb2twb3N0LmNv...