House Committee Chair Backs Speaker's Guidelines, Warns Against Power Misuse
House Committee on Religion, Arts and Culture Chair Thiwalan Angkinan endorsed House Speaker Sopon Saram's guidelines for all 35 House committees, stressing that chairs must operate on collective decision-making principles. She warned that misuse of power or inappropriate conduct could erode public trust and discourage cooperation from summoned individuals, undermining the parliamentary committee system's credibility.
On November 4, 2026, Thiwalan Angkinan, Phetchaburi MP from the Bhumjaithai Party and Chair of the House Committee on Religion, Arts and Culture, expressed support for House Speaker Sopon Saram's guidelines governing all 35 House committees. She stated that committee work serves as a crucial mechanism for fact-finding and problem-solving for the public, making the behavior and exercise of authority by committee chairs vital to the House of Representatives' image.
Thiwalan stressed that chairing a committee is not about wielding power or performing a personal role, but about managing work through a collective framework that respects every member's voice. She noted the Speaker's insistence that summoning external individuals must pass a meeting resolution, providing a proper legal framework that prevents committees from becoming political tools.
"A committee chair must set a good example for society — not merely follow the law but demonstrate dignity and respect for those summoned to testify, whether they are civil servants, private sector representatives, or ordinary citizens," Thiwalan said. "If a chair or committee abuses authority, acts inappropriately, or places themselves above others to the point of intimidation, the result is eroded trust and lost public faith in the committee process."
She warned that once public and institutional trust is lost, future cooperation and information-sharing will vanish, severely damaging the truth-seeking function that serves the collective interest. Strict adherence to the Speaker's guidelines, grounded in good governance, courtesy, and mutual respect, is essential to preserving the dignity and value of committee work.
