NRC membership not predetermined: Panadda
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No complaints have been filed in relation to the nomination of candidates for the National Reform Council (NRC), PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul said yesterday.
Panadda was responding to allegations of favouritism in certain provincial selection committees that are said to have a predetermined list of NRC candidates. He said the candidates were nominated after careful consideration by the selection panels involved.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said the names of 250 NRC members could be submitted for royal endorsement on October 2. He explained that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would choose the final 250 today from the shortlist of candidates nominated by the selection committees.
The reform council will be comprised of 173 people, chosen from the nominees put forward by the 11 NCPO-appointed selection committees, and another 77 from nominations made by the provincial selection panels.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda reiterated yesterday that there was no pre-determined list of NRC members and insisted that the selection procedure was transparent.
“The government and the NCPO intend to bring about reforms and we have no hidden agenda. We will ensure that reforms will be implemented as soon as possible. We will do our best with transparency,” he said.
In response to allegations that some candidates have personal ties with selection committee members in certain provinces, Anupong said he did not believe that all five candidates nominated by each of the selection committees would pose problems.
“We should not be too pessimistic. I am confident that the provincial selection committees have chosen good people, and the NCPO will have to pick the right people from their nominations,” he said.
In a related development, Election Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said yesterday NRC members were key to national reforms in the future, particularly in politics. They must be well qualified and highly capable to do the job, he added.
“People who want to become NRC members just for the sake of the position should not be selected. I don’t think these people will be able to do anything that is really beneficial to the country where reform is concerned,” Somchai said.
He was giving a speech on the “Directions of Thailand’s Political Reform” at Durakij Pundit University.
Somchai said he viewed political reform as the top priority among the 11 areas of reform. It was important to design political reform in a way that encourages honest politicians to rule the country. Politicians should not be allowed to gain political power through the use of money, influence or state power.
“If we fail to reform the political sector, Thai politics will return to the old ways,” he said, adding that an efficient system of scrutiny and checks and balance should be created.
