Another pro-govt member will ‘ruin credibility of anti-graft watchdog’: spokesman
Teerajchai Phunthumas, National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) spokesman and Move Forward MP, has questioned Palang Pracharat Party’s move to propose a person to replace Julapan Nonsrichai, former MP of dissolved Future Forward Party, as an NACC member.
Teerajchai declined to mention the name of the controversial candidate, though the NACC met to consider the eligibility of Suchart Trakulkasemsuk on June 9.
The NACC now has eight members from the government and only six from the opposition, which contradicts its principle of independent scrutiny, while the replacement would tilt the agency even further towards the government, said Teerajchai.
He added that the opposition should have seven members in the NACC to increase the effectiveness of scrutiny and prevent the government controlling oversight of the legislature.
Teerajchai said candidates for the NACC should be honest and not have a history involving any kind of corruption.
“The name [proposed by Palang Pracharat] would ruin the image and credibility of the NACC and further jeopardise the position of the opposition in the commission,” he said.
Critics say Suchart is ineligible for the role as per Article 203 of the Constitution, because 10 years have not passed since he served as a member of the National Legislative Assembly.