Call for PM to intervene as NBTC commissioners revolt

Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck

Commissioners at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) have asked Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to intervene in the case of the NBTC chairman's qualifications to untangle the deadlock at the regulator.On July 17, the NBTC selection committee ruled that Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck lacks the qualifications to hold the office of chairman, according to Section 8 (2) of the 2010 NBTC Act. Dr Sarana has indicated he is keeping his legal options open.

The committee said the chairman was prohibited based on the law because he did not resign from prohibited jobs before the deadline of Jan 11, 2022.

NBTC commissioner Suphat Suphachalasai said the premier must take decisive action using legal options.

Mr Anutin could forward the ruling to the secretariat of the Senate, allowing the Senate to issue a final ruling on the enforceability of the panel's vote.