The chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board does not want the hiring of a new secretary-general to be carried out via an open process, saying the recruitment falls under his own authority, according to a commissioner who requested anonymity.
The secretary-general's position has been vacant since Takorn Tantasith's term ended in September 2020. No timeline has been set for the recruitment process.
The source said the agenda involving the recruitment of the new secretary-general was put forward for the board meeting on Feb 15, but no progress has been made regarding the issue.
Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, chairman of the board, disagrees with the open recruitment process for applications, insisting the procedure falls under his own authority, the source said. Dr Sarana cited Section 61 of the NBTC Act, which stipulates that the chairperson, with the consent of the NBTC, shall appoint the secretary-general.
"This view greatly surprised the other commissioners," the source said.
The chairman directed NBTC's management to prepare a draft to determine recruitment conditions for the next meeting, the source noted.
Most of the commissioners believe the recruitment must be carried out through an open process, based on Section 58 of the Act, the source said.
The secretary-general has to be selected based upon all the commissioners' votes, and the chairman only signs to endorse the final approval of the appointment, the source said.
The NBTC office already has the criteria and framework for the qualifications of those who wish to apply for the position, the source said.
The source wondered whether the chairman may have misunderstood his own authority, or whether he already has someone in mind for the post.
NBTC deputy secretary-general Trairat Viriyasirikul was appointed by the former board members to serve as acting secretary-general until the NBTC board hired a permanent replacement.
The full NBTC board has seven members. Six people are now working in these roles.
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 to become the commissioner. He will be able to start working after receiving royal approval.
