NBTC Commissioners Urge PM Intervention Over Chairman's Qualifications

Chairman refusing to step down despite disqualification ruling by Senate panel PUBLISHED : 28 Jul 2026 at 06:01 NEWSPAPER SECTION: Business WRITER: Komsan Tortermvasana 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. The Senate’s NBTC selection committee ruled on July 17 that Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck was not qualified to hold office under the 2010 NBTC Act, as he had violated the prohibition on outside employment. The law requires commissioners to work full-time and prohibits them from holding other paid positions or engaging in occupations that could create conflicts of interest. NBTC commissioners receive a monthly salary and position allowance totalling 360,000 baht. The chairman’s remuneration totals 450,000 baht a month. A renowned cardiologist, Dr Sarana resigned his position as a clinical professor at Mahidol University after the Senate appointed him to the NBTC in December 2021. He was appointed chairman in April 2022. However, Dr Sarana continued to see patients at Ramathibodi and other hospitals, saying that he was obliged to ensure they received follow-up care. He also reportedly accepted an independent directorship on the board of Bangkok Bank. Dr Sarana has indicated he is keeping his legal options open. Suphat Suphachalasai, an NBTC commissioner said the prime minister must take decisive action using the legal options available. 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. The premier could also formally seek royal approval to remove Dr Sarana from office. On the other hand, if Mr Anutin seeks to confirm that the chairman’s status is legal, it would provide the legal clarity needed for the NBTC board to resume its functions. A source in NBTC management who requested anonymity said that until such clarity is provided, the regulator remains “in a state of paralysis” despite several critical policies awaiting its decisions. The NBTC board meeting on Monday was aborted as three commissioners boycotted the session. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug 5. According to an NBTC source who requested anonymity, the meeting lasted 30 minutes before three commissioners staged a walkout, questioning the legal status of the chairman. The commissioners are Pirongrong Ramasoota, AM Thanapant Raicharoen and Mr Suphat. The trio exited the room and submitted formal leave notices, leaving only three members — including the chairman — in attendance. As a result, the meeting failed to reach a quorum, which requires at least four of the seven members. Dr Sarana called on the exiting board members to fulfil their roles at the meeting. The commissioners refused to return and instead went to give press interviews. Dr Sarana said he remains legally in office until a royal command formally relieves him of his duties. “Only a royal command can terminate my duty in office,” he said. The three commissioners maintained that the Senate committee’s vote was the final word. Mr Suphat said any resolutions passed during meetings presided over by a disqualified chairman carry significant legal risks and could trigger a wave of lawsuits. “The current situation is a vacuum, and I’m unsure whether the Aug 5 meeting can proceed,” he said. The selection committee consulted with the Council of State over whether it had the authority to rule on Dr Sarana’s qualifications. The agency confirmed that the panel can do so under NBTC laws. While the chairman previously petitioned the Constitutional Court regarding the selection committee’s power to rule on his qualifications, the court deferred to the opinion of the Council of State. Mrs Pirongrong said the chairman’s case differs fundamentally from her own legal challenges. In 2025, Mrs Pirongrong was sentenced to two years in jail for dereliction of duty arising from a complaint filed by True Digital Group. The two-year jail term came with no suspension. The court later granted her bail with a 300,000-baht surety pending an appeal, on the condition that she not leave the country. As a result, Ms Pirongrong can remain a member of the regulator’s board. She told the Bangkok Post she was previously ordered by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to suspend her duties, and she emphasised her case is still in the preliminary stages and remains subject to appeal in higher courts. In contrast, the Senate selection panel’s ruling on Dr Sarana was that he was ineligible for the position from the very beginning.