A new regulation announced by an anti-graft agency requiring senior civil servants to declare their assets and liabilities has caused consternation, with university council members affected by the new rule set to quit their jobs citing "unnecessary paperwork and fuss".
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said Monday the agency is willing to listen to opinions from all involved. It is also waiting for formal letters from state university councils seeking a review of the regulation, he said.
The regulation was published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday, and will take effect on Dec 2.
It was issued under a new anti-corruption law which authorises the NACC to order political office holders, Constitutional Court judges, members of independent bodies, the Ombudsman, state officials, their spouses and children, including those who are not yet of age, to submit declarations of their assets and debts to the NACC.
The new regulation gives details as to which public office holders are required to do so.
Most are senior officials holding the ranks of ministerial deputy permanent secretaries, department deputy directors-general, deputy university rectors and other officials holding equivalent positions.
Cabinet members, MPs and senators, as well as high-ranking officials are already required by law to declare their assets and debts and those belonging to their spouses and children.
Pol Gen Watcharapol said that the new anti-corruption law requires all state officials to submit assets declarations for the sake of transparency.
A separate regulation will also be issued, requiring officials of lower positions to submit declarations of their assets and debts to their superiors, the NACC chief said.
He also explained that members of university councils are required to submit declarations of assets and debts because they have the power to appoint rectors, deans and approve budgets.
Addressing calls by university councils for a review of the regulation, he said the law does not give the agency the leeway to do so.
But he said the NACC will try to find a solution by raising the issue at a meeting today.
The NACC will also report the problem to the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he said.
"We listen to opinions from all sides. We must also consider whether to ask the NCPO to issue a Section 44 order to deal with it," Pol Gen Watcharapol said.
Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin said he will ask the NACC to review the regulation.
The minister also said that many people from the private sector sit on university councils are reluctant to declare their assets, so they plan to quit their positions.
The private sector plays an important role in the development of education, and it will be to the benefit of education development if they stay on, Dr Teerakiat said.
Suphan Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, concurs with Dr Teerakiat.
"They have the intention to help improve our education, but they will now have to deal with the paperwork," Mr Suphan said.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said the board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) also comprises state officials and those from the private sector.
When the new NACC announcement takes effect, anyone who wants to resign has the right to do so, Dr Piyasakol said.
The new anti-corruption law has been heavily criticised by state universities, which fear that it will lead to university council members leaving their positions en masse.
The Council of Rajabhat and Rajamangkala University Presidents of Thailand will this week file a petition asking the NACC to revise the new regulation, saying many of their council members would quit their positions because of the requirement, thus creating a power vacuum in universities.
Viroj Limkaisang, president of the Council of Rajamangala University Presidents of Thailand, said many council members at nine Rajamangala universities wanted to resign from their positions due to the new rule.
"Most of our council members are from the private sector. They get next to nothing from us apart from meeting allowances, so when they are required to declare their assets, it's a bit too much for them," Mr Viroj said.
Mr Viroj said the Council of Rajamangala University Presidents of Thailand has decided to submit a petition to NACC, asking it to exempt chairmen and members of councils of public universities from having to declare their assets.
"If this rule is not changed, many of our council members would resign and if more than half of members of the council quit, there will not be enough members to decide on important issues," he said.
"Moreover, it would also be a difficult task for universities to find other qualified individuals to replace them."
The Council of University Presidents of Thailand, plans to hold a meeting with the Council of Rajabhat University Presidents of Thailand and the Council of Rajamangkala University Presidents of Thailand tomorrow to discuss the NACC's new regulation.