Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt is considering expanding the use of the Traffy Fondue application to take complaints about corruption following its success in dealing with public service complaints.
The application is currently used as a platform for Bangkok citizens to submit complaints about public utilities and services and to alert all 50 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) district offices about issues.
Mr Chadchart said as of now more than 90,000 complaints have been made via Traffy Fondue and more than 40,000 of them have been addressed. The use of the application indicates how the community can be mobilised to drive problem-solving in society, he said.
“I don’t have to issue instructions at all. They [BMA offices] just have to check the reported issues on the application and go fix the problems,” he said.
Due to the success of Traffy Fondue, he said the BMA will further expand its use in reporting on corruption. Mr Chadchart said that all of the data, especially the informer’s details, would remain classified.
“As well, all other information about BMA’s policies and projects will be published on the City Hall’s website as part of the “Open Data” campaign pledge for increased transparency,” he said.
Mr Chadchart added that the BMA currently has no plan to give cash awards to people who report offences such as illegal parking via the application because several reports are duplicates.
On the issue of the use of privately-owned lands to develop as public spaces, Mr Chadchart said a committee will be established to draw up a criterion so as to ensure optimal benefits for the public
“City Hall needs to weigh up the pros and cons when the private sector offers land for use as public or green spaces, as City Hall does not get to use such land for free,” he said.
