A new course launched by the National Defence College (NDC) that fosters networking among middle-level military personnel, state officials and businesspeople has caused a stir with critics saying it deepens patronage culture.
The so-called "mini-NDC course", which is set to begin next year, is open to applicants aged 35-42 years, compared to 52-55 years for main programme.
Men or women in uniform must at least hold the rank of captain, as against the main programme requirement, which gives places to senior colonel or higher. In civil agencies, the mini-programme is open to officials of C-8, while the main programme allows only those in a C-9 position.
It appears the new course answers a demand for such a programme in this prestigious institution, which was established in 1958 during the first stages of the Cold War.
It's understood that officers, bureaucrats and CEOs of national businesses are scrambling for seats in the programme. All prospective applicants must be endorsed by their agencies.
It should be noted that while welcoming CEOs to the programme, the college provides zero space for civic groups and the people's sector, which at times clash with big companies on matters such as natural resources conservation.
The strength of the NDC programme is the connections it helps foster among the participants during the year of study. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in his keynote speech for this year's NDC academic programme opening, cautioned against NDC privileges and urged participants to think of the national interest.
While being perceived as a prestigious programme, it is not without links to controversy, with one case involving the murder of construction tycoon Chuwong Sae Tang by his colleague, Banyin Tangpakorn, a former deputy commerce minister under the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party. The two met during the 2015 NDC programme.
Police found that Chuwong died in a staged car crash, and just prior to his death, had transferred shares worth millions of baht to a golf caddie and two others introduced to him by Banyin.
The unusual share transfer to the caddie triggered Chuwong's family's doubt, and they petitioned police to probe the man's untimely death.
The case turned into a scandal.
Banyin was also found to have masterminded the fatal abduction of the brother of a court judge handling his case and later was handed a death sentence by lower and appeal criminal courts. The fact that the NDC accepted Banyin to the programme in the first place raises questions about the NDC's screening process and culture.
It may be true that the connections cultivated in such a programme may help reduce red tape in bureaucracy. But connections are close to nepotism in that they only breed patron-client relationships. Such relations demonstrate a failure in good governance. It may also be inappropriate for those in senior state positions to be too close to those in the same business.
Integration is a core principle for all state agencies. When running state affairs, authorities' efforts should focus on the work and its outcome.
If it's a matter of national interest, with benefits going to the people, they must disregard whether participants are NDC participants or alumni. Such sensible principles should prevail.