Thai junta to ‘clean up’ boards of state-owned companies
A purge of several state enterprise boards is expected to be the next step the coup-makers take following massive transfers of senior state officials and police officers on May 24. The state enterprise boards are being closely watched because they are crucial tools driving the work of state enterprise agencies and several of these boards are occupied by individuals considered to have close affiliations with the Pheu Thai administration.
Among the boards likely to face the axe are oil and gas giant PTT, Airports of Thailand, Port Authority of Thailand, Expressway and Rapid Transit uthority, State Railways of Thailand, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Saving Bank and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The PTT board chairman is Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, a former deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party. AoT is chaired by Sita Dhivari, also a Pheu Thai figure while the port authority is headed by former city police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang.
PTT was the first to be hit with the purge rumour. Word began to spread on May 24 in social media after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued a series of orders transferring top government officials and senior police officers. Several treated the rumour with scepticism because PTT Plc is a listed company and has its own rules and procedures. However, some argue that the coup-makers have consolidated the power and can order the purge.
Thai Airways International board is likely to be saved because Prachin Jantong, the NCPO deputy chief, has already taken the helm. A source said while changes at these boards are imminent, they are not likely to be drastic because it will draw unnecessary fierce opposition.
The source said the boards are represented by senior state officials and changes are for “suitability”. However, some members of the state enterprise boards have been heard telling their close aides that they are willing to step down in the wake of the “change of powers”.
A purge of several state enterprise boards is expected to be the next step the coup-makers take following massive transfers of senior state officials and police officers on May 24. The state enterprise boards are being closely watched because they are crucial tools driving the work of state enterprise agencies and several of these boards are occupied by individuals considered to have close affiliations with the Pheu Thai administration. Among the boards likely to face the axe are oil and gas giant PTT, Airports of Thailand, Port Authority of Thailand, Expressway and Rapid Transit uthority, State Railways of Thailand, Bank...
A purge of several state enterprise boards is expected to be the next step the coup-makers take following massive transfers of senior state officials and police officers on May 24. The state enterprise boards are being closely watched because they are crucial tools driving the work of state enterprise agencies and several of these boards are occupied by individuals considered to have close affiliations with the Pheu Thai administration.
Among the boards likely to face the axe are oil and gas giant PTT, Airports of Thailand, Port Authority of Thailand, Expressway and Rapid Transit uthority, State Railways of Thailand, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Saving Bank and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The PTT board chairman is Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, a former deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party. AoT is chaired by Sita Dhivari, also a Pheu Thai figure while the port authority is headed by former city police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang.
PTT was the first to be hit with the purge rumour. Word began to spread on May 24 in social media after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued a series of orders transferring top government officials and senior police officers. Several treated the rumour with scepticism because PTT Plc is a listed company and has its own rules and procedures. However, some argue that the coup-makers have consolidated the power and can order the purge.
Thai Airways International board is likely to be saved because Prachin Jantong, the NCPO deputy chief, has already taken the helm. A source said while changes at these boards are imminent, they are not likely to be drastic because it will draw unnecessary fierce opposition.
The source said the boards are represented by senior state officials and changes are for “suitability”. However, some members of the state enterprise boards have been heard telling their close aides that they are willing to step down in the wake of the “change of powers”.
