Reforming bureaucracy a must for our future

Reforming bureaucracy a must for our future

It is increasingly clear what the political party landscape would be like and what type of government we will be getting once elections are held. The impeachment of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra means Pheu Thai is considerably weakened. Down, but not out. The party is forced to play a long waiting game until elections are a go.

When polls will be held is another matter. Don’t hold your breath for February 2016. But once the green light is given, only then can we gauge the resilience of its grassroots support that has ensured its majority in parliament over the past 10 years. Much will depend on whether it can find a new leader with the Shinawatra appeal.

Setting aside Pheu Thai’s woes, the bigger picture is that mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that no one party will gain a majority in parliament. Future governments will be coalitions of small to medium-sized parties.

On top of this, the option of an unelected prime minister is on the cards. The new coalition government will have to deal with, for example, constitutional restrictions on populist policies and a more powerful, partially-elected and appointed Senate.

But that’s not all. This week, we see another measure to ensure the rise and strengthening of the bureaucracy.

The charter writers moved to put in place a mechanism that aims to prevent politicians interfering in the appointment of top civil servants at ministries.

A seven-member panel is proposed to oversee the appointment and transfer of permanent secretaries at all ministries.

The proposed committee would comprise two officials selected by the Civil Service Commission, three retired permanent secretaries selected by serving permanent secretaries and two officials who chair the ethics and morality panels at the ministries. The Senate would endorse the committee members, whose term is limited to three years.

The committee will select three candidates for a permanent secretary position and forward the list for the cabinet to pick one. If the cabinet decides not to select any of the candidates, the committee will select one and send the winning candidate to the senate speaker for approval. It’s interesting, but probably no surprise, that this committee has no jurisdiction over the appointment of the defence permanent secretary.

Many will say this move is long overdue and serves them right. Politicians are the source of evil and have long abused their role in selecting senior officials close to them or their party for financial gain. Those who oppose them or fail to comply are removed and pigeonholed in bureaucratic limbo.

But that’s only one side of the coin. Past abuse and corruption in government, projects and policies requires more than two hands clapping together. More often it is three — the politician, the bureaucrat and the private sector. This latest move may well prevent politicians from abusing their powers, but what assurances are there that the bureaucrats would not abuse theirs?

Charter writing chairman Borwornsak Uwanno says measures must be in place to ensure this new committee does not exploit and abuse its powers.

Clauses need to ensure good governance, he said. Let’s see what they come up with.

But more important is whether the charter drafters and those responsible for initiating reforms will take serious steps to reform our bureaucracy.

For decades, there are many ministries and officials who pay lip service to the concept of serving the people. Many adopt an entitled attitude in their dealings with the people.

They nurture the entrenched system of patronage, which hampers meritocracy, accountability and transparency. On the ground, corruption and illegal activities occur because police and officials assist, turn a blind eye or are directly involved. 

There are still a few months to go before we get a clearer and complete picture of the new charter, the proposed reforms and what it means for future governance. The future landscape, as far as the politicians are concerned, appears clearer.

For the bureaucracy as a whole, it is not. Reform of the bureaucracy, including the military, is a must if there is any genuine hope for a better Thailand.


Pichai Chuensuksawadi is the Bangkok Post Editor.

Pichai Chuensuksawadi

Editor-in-Chief & Bangkok Post Editor

He is an Editor-in-Chief at Post Publishing Public. He also served as Editor at The Post Publishing Plc from 1994 to 2002 and Special Assistant to the ASEAN Secretary General Dato'Ajit Singh from 1993 to 1994. He serves as the Chairman of The Bangkok Post Provident Fund. He is Chairman of The Bangkok Post Foundation and Phud Hong Leper Foundation. He is a Member of The Press Council of Thailand. He is a Board Member of IFRA. He is Chairman of the Organising Committee, IFRA Asia Pacific. He has BA in Journalism from Queensland University, Australia in 1979 and BA. Political Science from James Cook University of North Queensland University, Australia in 1976.

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