The reform committees, lambasted by critics as self-serving for the government, deserve public understanding and time to work, said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
He said the members of the 11 reform committees who have been criticised for having close ties to the regime, were carefully selected to do the job and deserved an opportunity to prove themselves.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam allayed concerns that future governments would not be able to initiate new policies but follow the committees' framework only.
He said several past governments had pursued reforms as well, but the current government has imposed legal obligations to ensure the reforms are implemented.
He said future governments could seek to amend the reform plans and even the law on national reform and national strategies through parliament. However they must be prepared to clarify the necessity for revision if required.
Mr Wissanu also said the appointment of the national strategy committee is likely to be completed late this month. The committee, known as the superboard and chaired by the prime minister, will appoint six more panels.
Critics, meanwhile, have voiced scepticism over the government's latest reform drive, accusing it of lacking focus, while those involved in the reform drive are confident that key changes are on the way.
Chirmsak Pinthong, a former member of the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC), said the fresh move has little to offer because the government and the National Council for Peace and Order failed to prioritise reform issues and tasks to be delivered.
He said reforms deal with structural changes and the government is required to sort out which areas of reform must be dealt with before others, instead of trying to do them all at once.
It is impossible to implement 11 areas of reform at once, and each area also has details to be addressed, he said.
He was referring to the recent appointment of 120 members to the 11 new reform committees.
These panels, formed in compliance with the law on national reform and national strategies and as stipulated by the constitution, have eight months to turn reform proposals into action plans by April next year.
Mr Chirmsak also questioned the choice of the committee members, several of whom are technocrats, incumbent and retired.
He said there are several bank executives who are unlikely to be willing to embrace reform and prepared to make drastic changes.
The most the public can expect from the various reform committees are cosmetic changes, he said.
However, the reform committee members disagree with Mr Chirmsak. They believe reforms will begin to take shape after eight months.
Vicha Mahakhun, dean of Rangsit University's law faculty and member of a reform committee on graft and corruption, said results are within reach because there is a solid body of work in this area from several parties including the NRC and the now-dissolved National Reform Steering Assembly.
In April next year a national strategic plan against corruption, both long-term and short-term, will be ready, he added.