Thailand ranked 80th as the most corrupt country among 180 nations

There is some good news for Thailand. Thailand has ranked down from 84th last year to 80th this year as the most corrupt country among the 180 nations and territories according to the 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by the Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog organisation Transparency International (TI).

Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand shared first place with the highest score of  9.3 points each, followed immediately by Singapore at 9.2. Myanmar with 1.3 came next to last, a position occupied by Somalia which scored only 1.

Thailand along with Burkina Faso, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco shared 80th place, each scoring 3.5. Thailand in 2007 earned a 3.3 rating from Transparency International and was ranked 84th.

This index determines the the degree of corruption perceived by businessmen and country analysts, which ranges between zero — indicating extreme corruption,  to 10 — which is clean, honest and transparent.

Juree Vichit-vadakarn, the secretary-general of Transparency Thailand said that the country improved this year in the eyes of Thai and foreign investors as they believed fewer incidents of the practice of soliciting ‘tea-money’ in return of favours were conducted.

Thailand’s leaders must be “good role models,” Ms. Juree said, adding that they must also posses a higher ethics than the general public