The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has urged the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to amend the draft organic law on the anti-graft body to allow its nine members to complete their terms.
It is a matter of work continuity, the commission says.
The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has finished drafting the organic bill which will be debated and scrutinised by the NLA before it is sent for royal endorsement and then enacted.
The CDC-drafted bill, if enacted unaltered, would see the removal of up to seven of the nine commissioners, including NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, as they do not meet the stricter qualifications imposed by the CDC.
Pol Gen Watcharapol said the proposed reset affecting the seven members would disrupt the commission's work.
He appealed to the NLA, which has the power to change the contents of the bill, to allow a concession where all nine commissioners would stay on to serve out the rest of their nine-year tenure.
"The NACC assumes a special responsibility. It needs qualified and experienced commissioners to inquire and decide on cases, but it also requires work continuity," he said.
Pol Gen Watcharapol said there must be sound reasons to justify removing more than half of the sitting commissioners.
The NACC representatives will explain the merit of the nine commissioners remaining in their posts to the NLA during scrutiny of the organic bill in the second reading.
CDC spokesman Amorn Wanichwiwatana announced earlier the CDC wants members of independent agencies to have higher qualifications.
He also said the CDC had set up a panel of experts to help it work draw up the bill. Mr Amorn stressed that members of the anti-graft body must also meet the qualification criteria under the new constitution.
In principle, the NACC under its new structure, must take a more proactive approach to its work without waiting for others to file complaints, Mr Amorn added.
