House Law Committee Rejects Speaker's Order 8-0, Summons Speaker

Fighting back! 'Rome' secures an 8-0 committee vote rejecting what members call an encroachment on their authority by the House Speaker, and summons 'Sophon' to explain. The committee chair points out that a circular letter lacks the Speaker's signature and may not be genuine.

On November 4, 2026, Rangsiman Rome, party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, in his capacity as chair of the House Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, posted on Facebook regarding the summoning of Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (referred to as 'Sophon'), President of the National Assembly and House Speaker, to explain the alleged encroachment on committee authority.

Rangsiman stated that because legal disputes remain over the status of the committee's operational guidelines, the Law Committee voted not to accept the proposed approach (8-0) and also voted to invite the House Speaker to explain at the next meeting.

Additionally, Rangsiman elaborated on the circular letter sent to committee chairs regarding operational guidelines. He said the Law Committee has drawn intense scrutiny because it is investigating multiple matters: a 40-million-baht bribery case, local elections, and the progress of the attempted assassination case involving MP Kamolrat Liwamo of Narathiwat from the Chart Thai Party, as well as the TH-AI passport issue. This has led to attempts to seize committee powers within Parliament.

He emphasized that the guideline letters sent to each committee are neither laws nor regulations, and therefore carry no binding force. They are merely guidelines distributed to each committee, so compelling compliance is not possible. However, the key question is whether the Secretariat's enforcement will continue; the matter remains unresolved. Today the Law Committee therefore voted on this issue, reaching an 8-0 decision not to accept the guidelines, and agreed the matter must be included on the agenda for consideration.

Rangsiman said the legal basis that must be discussed is the foundation of the committee's authority, and that the Speaker will be invited to testify in committee, expected on November 12. He hopes the Speaker will cooperate in providing clarification.

Rangsiman noted that if the circular is genuine, it must follow legal procedures. However, the three-page document received by the committee bears no official seal, no signature of the House Speaker, and cites no legal authority. Committee members therefore unanimously agreed they cannot accept these guidelines and will verify the facts.

Asked whether the committee would continue inviting outsiders to provide information on new issues, Rangsiman replied that the committee's approach remains unchanged today; it still adheres to its established practices. Some may interpret the regulations differently, but there is no cause for change at present.

Regarding the guidelines that were circulated, legal objections remain; some view them as unconstitutional. Therefore, the committee cannot endorse something that violates the law.