The Department of Local Administration (DLA) rebutted Mr. Rom’s claims, providing detailed explanations denying fraud or interference in the 2023 local government exams. It revealed that the cancellation of Burapha University's contract was due to concerns over potential state losses and affirmed plans to hold a new, rigorous, and transparent exam in 2025.
On 7 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Nirat Pongsitthithaworn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Acting Director-General of the Department of Local Administration (DLA), posted a letter clarifying facts regarding the 2023 local government civil service exam. This was in response to Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, who raised concerns publicly on 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7 about alleged corruption in local government recruitment and issues surrounding the hiring process and cancellation of the exam operator.
These allegations could mislead the public into believing that the DLA’s actions were dishonest or influenced improperly. The DLA would like to clarify the facts of this matter as follows.
1. Regarding the competitive examination for recruiting local government civil servants or employees,
1.1 The competitive examination to recruit local government civil servants or employees is a legal duty,
carried out by the Central Committee on Local Civil Servants and Employees (Central Committee).
This follows National Council for Peace and Order Order No. 8/2017 dated 21 Feb 2017, which authorizes the Central Committee on Local Civil Service Examinations (CCLSE) to organize the exams. The Central Committee assigned the DLA to contract state universities to conduct the examinations, in line with general standards for competitive exam criteria and conditions.
1.2 For the 2023 exam, the DLA invited state universities to submit proposals and price bids.
Two state universities submitted proposals: Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi
and Burapha University. After review, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi was initially selected as the winning bidder. Burapha University appealed under procurement law, and the Procurement Appeals Committee of the Comptroller General’s Department ruled the appeal valid. Upon re-evaluation, Burapha University was declared the winner on 28 Dec 2023 GMT+7.
2. Reasons for canceling the winning bidder’s contract
2.1 An anti-corruption network submitted complaints to the Ministry of Interior on 4 Jan 2024 GMT+7,
requesting changes to the exam method (suggesting using Part A of the Civil Service Commission’s exam instead of requiring passing Part A of the local exam), reviewing the university contract, and investigating alleged bribery in the exam process.
2.2 The Ministry of Interior issued Order No. 150/2024 dated 16 Jan 2024 GMT+7, appointing a committee
to investigate the facts of the complaint.
2.3 On 17 Jan 2024 GMT+7, a joint meeting was held among the Ministry of Interior, DLA, CCLSE, Anti-Corruption Police Division, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to establish guidelines to prevent and combat corruption in the exams. They agreed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with anti-corruption partners and to delay signing the exam contract until the fact-finding committee concluded its review.
2.4 The DLA followed the fact-finding committee’s recommendations, such as implementing detailed anti-corruption measures at every exam stage and allowing partner agencies to observe all exam procedures. These observations were incorporated into the revised Terms of Reference (TOR).
2.5 In its 5/2024 meeting on 16 Dec 2024 GMT+7, the CCLSE determined that continuing under the original TOR risked harm to the state agency and public interest. Additional anti-corruption measures were necessary, changing the scope and budget of the contract. The committee also reviewed the proposal to use Part A of the Civil Service Commission’s exam, not requiring a pass in Part A of the local exam, discussing this repeatedly with the Central Committee. Due to these factors, the DLA consulted the Comptroller General’s Department about canceling the exam contract and starting a new procurement process. The Comptroller General’s Department confirmed that contract cancellation was at the DLA’s discretion to protect public interests. Consequently, the DLA officially canceled Burapha University’s contract.
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3. DLA’s actions to prevent corruption in the competitive exams
3.1 The DLA has enhanced anti-corruption measures following the fact-finding committee’s recommendations and the CCLSE’s resolutions, such as separating the exam registration process from contracting to clarify budgets before procurement and ensure effective exam management. It mandates answer sheet inspections at all 10 exam centers for prompt checking and to prevent answer sheet tampering during transport. Partner agencies are allowed to observe all exam stages.
3.2 The 2025 exam procurement uses electronic bidding (e-bidding) to allow all qualified state universities or educational institutions to submit proposals. The TOR draft was developed with partner agencies’ input to ensure anti-corruption measures that serve public interest, transparency, fairness, and avoid favoring any bidder.
3.3 Conducting the competitive exams is the authority and duty of the Central Committee on Local Civil Service Examinations under National Council for Peace and Order Order No. 8/2017 dated 20 Feb 2017. All operations comply fully with relevant laws and regulations.