Bangkok: Wan Nor revealed that he has not yet received a signal to open a special session to consider amending the constitution. He indicated that the House is ready, but it depends on the committee's decision on when to finish considering it. He also mentioned the appointment of MP assistants, saying that if someone complains to the House, he is ready to investigate.
According to Thai News Agency, House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha stated that he has not yet received any official signal from the government before the House convenes its regular session on December 12th. This is because constitutional amendments differ from other laws. Upon completion of the second reading, a 15-day pause is required before a vote on the third reading. Therefore, the committee would like the second reading of the constitutional amendment to take place before December 12th. The House is prepared for this matter, depending on when the committee concludes its meeting. The authority to request the convening of the special session lies with the government, and the House can include the agenda for the second and third readings.
Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor further stated that he wanted the constitutional amendment to proceed smoothly and therefore requested that all committee members attend the meeting to provide their opinions and compromise on various points of view to ensure a smooth second reading. He also requested that the third reading be passed by the House of Representatives, leading to a referendum, as the government and the Election Commission have planned to hold simultaneously with the election. A referendum on the constitution must first pass the third reading. He stated that the second reading is nearly complete, with only amendments remaining to ensure consensus. Therefore, the committee should complete its deliberations in November and request a special meeting before the regular session in early December.
Regarding the appointment of MP assistants, which has been swirling with back and forth regarding their qualifications, the Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that this matter must comply with the law and regulations. The appointment of experts or MP assistants must comply with parliamentary regulations. He added that if a complaint is filed, the House must investigate and take appropriate action. If a complaint is filed, the House will have the Speaker's legal team investigate the complaint to verify the authenticity of the complaint and ensure the accuracy of the information. The appointment of experts and MP assistants can be changed annually. The office will ask MPs and relevant officials to confirm whether to retain the same person or replace them. Therefore, the details must be verified to ensure that each MP has been appointed and acted upon correctly.