Thai PBS Urged to Clarify Budget Use Amid Transparency Calls
People’s Party spokesperson Pikhamon Noonanan urged Thai PBS to explain its budget spending of over 100 million baht and called on the State Audit Office to first ensure its own transparency before auditing others. She said a parliamentary committee will discuss changing Thai PBS’s funding source and amending its governing law on October 22. Pikhamon warned that without clarity, public support for the broadcaster as an independent public media outlet could weaken.
Pikhamon Noonanan said Thai PBS must clarify its budget usage, criticized the State Audit Office for needing to clean up its own transparency before auditing others, and rebutted Supachai after pressure from three People's Party parliamentary committees to investigate. She reiterated that the Political Development Committee has placed the issue on its agenda for discussion on October 22. Pikhamon explained that Thai PBS must account to society for its spending of over 100 million baht, noting that while she has never said the broadcaster must agree with her on changing its funding source, the broadcaster’s mistakes must be corrected and self‑reform is necessary. She stressed that external funding decisions are a parliamentary matter, but internally Thai PBS must prove it is fit to be an independent, dignified public media outlet in its use of funds. If Thai PBS cannot clear public doubts, public support for it as a public broadcaster will weaken, causing people to lose sight of the three demands: changing the funding source to avoid influence, ensuring Thailand has a public broadcaster, and urging Thai PBS to reform itself to become transparent and accountable. Pikhamon also said the State Audit Office, which held a press briefing, should be asked whether it can clear its own name and prove its legitimacy in various matters. She warned that after the Bhumjaithai Party’s proposal and the Audit Office’s agreement to examine the budget, the office must not become a political tool, and every organization must first achieve transparency before auditing others or forming alliances. When asked about Supachai Champasamut, Bhumjaithai list-MP and legal committee chairman, calling for three parliamentary committees chaired by the People's Party—Rangsimaan Rom, Ruchanak Sreenok, and herself—to investigate Thai PBS, Pikhamon replied that the Political Development Committee has already set the agenda for Thursday, October 22, inviting the Excise Department, the Ministry of Finance, and the Thai PBS board to discuss changing the funding source, concerns about undue influence, and amending the Thai PBS Act. She added that these issues must be handled together, but stressed that external funding questions and internal reforms should not be conflated, and that the government and Bhumjaithai must also be questioned about any hidden motives behind the funding change. Pikhamon concluded that Thai PBS must now amend its governing law to become transparent, dignified, and truly an independent public broadcaster, and that the committee will discuss these points.
