The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's (NBTC) selection process for a new secretary-general could risk a legal challenge from applicants if it is not an open process, according to a commissioner who requested anonymity.
The secretary-general's post has been vacant since Takorn Tantasith's term ended in September 2020.
On March 7, the NBTC board held a third round of meetings to prepare an agenda for the selection of the secretary-general.
According to an NBTC statement yesterday, chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck informed the commissioners at the meeting that the selection process will be based on Article 61 of the NBTC Act which states that the chairman, with board consent, shall appoint or vacate the secretary-general.
At the meeting the NBTC's management proposed only a draft of candidate qualifications for the board's consideration. The selection method was also separately proposed, but only for their acknowledgement, the source added.
The move made some commissioners surprised as they believed they had convened to consider both the candidates' qualifications and the selection procedure together.
At the meeting, three out of six commissioners -- Dr Sarana, Pol Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, and Torpong Selanon -- voted in favour of considering only the draft of candidates' qualifications, instead of both qualifications and the selection method together.
The other three commissioners reserved the right not to vote on the matter. They were AM Thanapant Raicharoen, Pirongrong Ramasoota, and Suphat Suphachalasai.
Finally, Dr Sarana exercised his power as chairman to cast another vote, resulting in 4-3 resolution on the issue.
While Dr Sarana cited the powers given to him in Section 61 of the NBTC Act, some commissioners believe the recruitment must be carried out through an open process, as in the past, based on Section 58 of the Act.
The office of the NBTC chairman recently sent a letter to the Bangkok Post to clarify the newspaper's report on differing views between the chairman and some commissioners.
According to the letter, the chairman wanted to ensure that the process in which he would submit a candidate for the commissioners' approval would be transparent. He said the selection process would strictly abide by the related NBTC regulations.
The chairman's letter said he respected other opinions and understood that some commissioners may have ambivalent feelings and were disaffected by the limited scope of the NBTC Act, but he would do his best to serve the public and ameliorate any misunderstanding within the organisation.
The potential candidates for the post include: NBTC's deputy secretary-general, Trairat Viriyasirikul; Surangkana Wayuparb, former chief executive of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency; and Suebsak Suebpakdee, secretary-general of the Digital Council of Thailand.
With a full quorum, the NBTC board has seven commissioners. In December, the Senate's selection committee nominated Sompop Purivigraipong, vice-president of Mahanakorn University of Technology, as the seventh commissioner in charge of the telecom field.
On Feb 14, the Senate voted in favour of his nomination as commissioner. He will be able to start work after receiving royal approval.
