SIPA AND MINISTER AT LOGGERHEADS

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said there is not enough transparency in Sipa’s board, especially its delay for more than a year in appointing a director to manage the public agency. Sipa is an important organisation to support the software industry, he said.

 

“It is not matter of whether they have a chance to meet me or not. It is not relative to their performance. If Sipa’s board cannot support the ICT Ministry’s policies, we need to find new ones. This rule is applicable not only to Sipa’s board but all organisations under the ICT Ministry,” Anudith said.

 

He said that he would take up this issue on a priority and in the near future he would be able to finalise a solution for Sipa. He added that he would consider the facts and evidence and make it transparent.

 

Meanwhile, the board of Sipa said that they will send a letter to the Senate committee to consider whether the ICT minister was discharging his duties appropriately. They say that since becoming the minister, he has not given a chance to Sipa’s board to meet him and discuss strategies to promote the software industry.

 

Currently, Sipa’s board has set up a selective committee to pick a new director for Sipa. The selective committee consists of seven people, including representatives from Sipa’s board, ICT associations, the ICT Ministry and the Public Sector Development Commission. 

 

The process began late last year after Sipa’s board agreed to revoke its announcement in June 2010 announcing Wutthipong Pongsuwan’s appointment as the new director. Sipa’s board said it could now move forward to find a new director to lead the organisation. 

 

Currently, Sipa’s board has eight people after the resignation of Siwa Saengmanee and Rungrat Kuysuwan.