Bangkok: The Minister of Interior has mandated the Local Administration Department to enhance the standards of local government examinations, focusing on the principle "Cases must proceed, the system must change," and integrating systemic measures to combat corruption.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Worasit Liengprasit, Deputy Minister of Interior, has directed the Department of Local Administration (DLA) to expedite the process of upgrading recruitment examination standards for local administrative organizations nationwide. He stressed the importance of incorporating lessons from public concerns about examination transparency into the operational systems of all agencies to build lasting public trust.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the Ministry of Interior prioritizes legal action in all cases under the relevant agencies' jurisdiction. Meanwhile, subordinate agencies must work swiftly to enhance preventative measures, closing potential loopholes in the future.
"The case must follow legal procedures, and the system needs to be improved to be more rigorous. Public trust can only be built when both law enforcement and anti-corruption efforts move forward together," he declared.
The Department of Local Administration has been instructed to develop a comprehensive plan to elevate examination standards across the nation's local administrative organizations. The framework operates under the guiding principle of "Order today - Report in 7 days - Results in 30 days - Summary in 90 days" to ensure continuous and verifiable system reform.
Within seven days, the department is tasked with surveying and compiling proposals to reduce the risk of cheating during examinations, alongside reporting on immediate improvement plans. Within 30 days, measures to enhance examination transparency will be proposed and implemented, involving cooperation with the National Statistical Office and the development of guidelines for monitoring complaints. Within 90 days, the department must summarize operational results and suggest improvements to regulations and procedures to raise examination standards, ensuring transparency and accountability while minimizing future corruption risks.
Mr. Worasit emphasized that the policy aims to create a system that fosters lasting public trust in local government examinations, beyond solving immediate issues. "I will not interfere with the investigation process, as that is the responsibility of the relevant agency. However, as a policy supervisor, my duty is to ensure that future investigations are more transparent, to close as many loopholes as possible, and to give capable individuals a fair opportunity."
Furthermore, the Department of Local Administration is responsible for continuously monitoring the implementation progress and reporting within the specified timeframe. This ensures that the upgraded examination standards yield tangible results and bolster confidence in the country's local administration system.