A People’s Party MP opposes the draft amendment to the ThaiPBS Act, highlighting its intent to bring public media under government control and thus undermine its independence.
On 1 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Phakamon Noon-anant, a party-list MP from the People’s Party, voiced opposition to the draft amendment to the Public Broadcasting Organization of Thailand Act (ThaiPBS Act) proposed by Mr. Supachai Jaisamut of the Bhumjaithai Party. She stated that the bill’s hidden intent is to bring public media back under executive control by changing its revenue structure—from funding allocated from excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco to funding from the national budget. This shift would cause ThaiPBS to lose its independence and become a state media outlet similar to the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (Channel 11) or the Public Relations Department.
Ms. Phakamon emphasized that Thai society, currently facing corruption, disaster crises, and questioned governance, needs an independent public media to rigorously check government power. ThaiPBS is the only media outlet fulfilling this role. She pointed out that attempts to consolidate control over media signal a move toward absolute state control. Therefore, she invited the public to sign a petition opposing the bill during the public consultation phase under Article 77 of the constitution via the parliamentary website, to collectively protect public media from becoming a political tool of the government.