Senator Prem Pressures Thai PBS Over Corruption Probe

Khaosod•Politics•34m ago

Reader Briefing

Senator Prema Sak Phia-yura is demanding transparency from Thai PBS regarding an Office of the Auditor General investigation into financial irregularities.

•The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) found deficiencies in Thai PBS spending and requested damages totaling over 85 million baht.
•Senator Prema Sak Phia-yura questioned why Thai PBS has not publicly disclosed progress on the investigation one month after the OAG's letter.
•The OAG's findings involve specific procurement for programs "Khao Cho Yo Lok" and "Thai PBS Newsroom" and payments without regulations.

Overview

•On November 13, 2026, Prema Sak Phia-yura addressed the operations of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS).
•Six media professional organizations issued a joint statement on October 2 calling for Thai PBS to review its role and reform the organization.
•The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) sent a letter on October 9, 2026, to the Thai PBS Policy Board reporting spending deficiencies.
•The OAG requested compensation for damages to Thai PBS totaling 85,222,935.65 baht for spending during the 2023–2025 fiscal years.
•Prema Sak Phia-yura stated that Thai PBS should demonstrate the value of public funds and strictly follow procurement laws.
•The OAG recommended disciplinary action against three employees regarding program procurement and one deputy director plus six employees regarding payment approvals.
•The Thai PBS Policy Board must complete its process within 120 days, while the Director has a 240-day timeframe, with reports to the OAG every 60 days.
•Prema Sak Phia-yura urged the Thai PBS Policy Board and management to disclose the steps taken to ensure public accountability.

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Key Quotes

Prema Sak Phia-yura

"Organizational reform is like surgery; it is naturally painful, otherwise change cannot happen and the reform will fail."

การปฏิรูปองค์กรเปรียบเสมือนการผ่าตัด ย่อมจะต้องเจ็บปวดเป็นธรรมดา ไม่เช่นนั้นก็เปลี่ยนแปลงไม่ได้ และการปฏิรูปก็จะล้มเหลว

Key Entities

Person

Prema Sak Phia-yura(นพ.เปรมศักดิ์ เพียยุระ)

A Senator who is questioning the transparency and reform of Thai PBS.

Organization

Thai Public Broadcasting Service(องค์การกระจายเสียงและแพร่ภาพสาธารณะแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

A public broadcasting organization under scrutiny for internal corruption and procurement issues.

Thai PBS(ไทยพีบีเอส)ℹ️

The short name for the Thai Public Broadcasting Service.

Office of the Auditor General(สำนักงานการตรวจเงินแผ่นดิน)

The government body that audited Thai PBS and found financial deficiencies.

Law

Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act 2008(พ.ร.บ.องค์การกระจายเสียงและแพร่ภาพสาธารณะแห่งประเทศไทย พ.ศ. 2551)

The law governing the establishment and funding of Thai PBS.

Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017(พ.ร.บ.การจัดซื้อจัดจ้างและการบริหารพัสดุภาครัฐ พ.ศ. 2560)

The law regulating government procurement and supplies management.

State Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act 2018(พ.ร.บ.วินัยการเงินการคลังของรัฐ พ.ศ. 2561)

The law regulating the financial and fiscal discipline of the state.