NRC chief backs NACC decision against asset declaration
Elected National Reform Council (NRC) chairman Thienchay Kiranandana said yesterday that he supported the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)'s decision that NRC members will not be required to declare their assets and liabilities.
NACC, which has the duty of deciding who is required to file an asset declaration, made a unanimous decision on Tuesday that it was not necessary for NRC members to declare their assets.
NACC member Vicha Mahakun said the commission had decided that NRC members’ duties were mostly academic and that council members would use their knowledge and experience to introduce reforms and that their work had no interests involved.
“I actually have no problem filing my asset declaration because I have done that 16 times,’’ Thienchay said.
When asked if this matter should be taken to court, Thienchay said he believed the NRC should stick with NACC’s decision, otherwise it will give rise to legal disputes.
Meanwhile, deputy Democrat Party leader Nipit Intarasombat said the NACC’s decision was “outright unreasonable”, adding that he backed a former Pheu Thai Party MP’s call for NRC members to declare their wealth and liabilities.
“It’s very rare that I agree with a Pheu Thai member,” he said.
Nipit also pointed out that the interim charter’s Article 37 gave NRC members the power to decide whether the new Constitution should be promulgated. NRC members who have a hand in drafting the charter are not allowed to assume a political post for two years.
“An NRC member’s position is very significant and involves huge interests, so why should people who have the duty of reforming the country behave like they have something to hide? The public is likely to lose faith and trust in the NACC and the NRC over this issue,’’ he said.
In comparison, the NACC had earlier decided that National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members were required under the National Anti-Corruption Act to declare their assets and liabilities to the anti-graft body and the public before taking office and after stepping down.
However, some 28 NLA members last month took the matter to the Administrative Court, which rejected the petition saying that NLA members had to comply with NACC’s decision as their job was equivalent to that of an MP or senator.
The group then filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court saying that there was no provision in the interim charter demanding that NLA members declare their assets. However, the higher court upheld the lower court’s decision.
