Prime Minister Anutin struck back at Rom, firmly denying any involvement in local exam corruption, stating he is not responsible for overseeing the TOR but is tasked with finding and punishing wrongdoers. He declared his hatred of corruption and showcased results from anti-corruption efforts within just one month.
On 7 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul addressed claims by the House Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Rangsiman Rome, which alleged the Prime Minister was involved in local exam corruption by selecting the TOR and pushing Burapha University out of the contract.
The Prime Minister said he would respond that the matter is currently in the hands of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), police, Anti-Money Laundering Office, and several committees. Whatever the investigation concludes, he asserted he has no involvement. His only concern is preventing corruption.
He reaffirmed no involvement in preparing the TOR and no knowledge of it, stating it is not the role of the Prime Minister or Minister of Interior to oversee the TOR process. The policy given is that all actions within departments under their supervision must comply with laws, be honest, transparent, and subject to scrutiny.
"We do not speak about what we do; others talk nonsense. How many have been prosecuted? How many charged? We are not a court and cannot punish ourselves, but charges have been filed."
Anutin also mentioned that yesterday, Atthit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, attended a central committee meeting, bringing results from the local exam committee. The central committee met again and ultimately decided to cancel appointments of over 5,000 corrupt civil servants.
Following this, the central committee will send the resolution to local authorities and provincial governors nationwide. This is a legal procedure, not to prolong the process. Governors will notify local administrative organizations to stop employing those appointed improperly.
Regarding calls for the Prime Minister to take responsibility despite investigations and findings, he asked rhetorically how much responsibility would satisfy critics. He said he already takes responsibility in his work daily. Everyone must act responsibly and honestly. Responsibility means finding and punishing offenders and ensuring proper appointments to prevent recurrence. Seniority alone is insufficient; work history, skills, and aptitude must be considered. This is their effort to prevent corruption.
On Rom’s attempt to involve the Prime Minister's name, Anutin said, "Has Rom ever spoken something that turned out true? He tries to make issues and news without factual basis, relying on speculation. He says whatever comes to mind, but nothing happens as he imagines. This has happened many times; just let it pass. My duty is to punish wrongdoers, remove corrupt individuals from employment, and ensure justice for honest candidates. All actions follow administrative procedures under the executive branch’s responsibility."
Asked if he is confident the opposition will debate this issue and possibly topple the government, Anutin replied, "What does confidence mean? I must be confident because I have done nothing wrong or improper. If I had, I would not be confident. I am confident because I act honestly. I despise corruption, perhaps more than the corrupt themselves. Just look at my directives and policies; we have achieved this point. Although it might be slow—some cases take 5-10 years, like the investigation of 44 MPs extending into next year—we have identified wrongdoers. It depends on whether they want to be truthful or not. If they bear ill will, they spread fake news. Many spread fake news and make mistakes, but let them be. We just must avoid mistakes ourselves by not doing wrong."