The State Enterprise Policy Committee has resolved to approve a restructuring plan for MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, aimed at rehabilitating its business operations and enhancing its capacity to generate revenue and profit. One of the key approaches proposed in the plan is a merger between MCOT and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS, which has not yet been settled. The Ministry of Finance is preparing to bring the matter before the Cabinet for consideration within next week, or at the latest the following week. If the Cabinet approves, a clear direction for implementation will then be determined. The merger between MCOT and Thai PBS is considered a challenging task, since the two organizations were established and operate under entirely different laws. If the government proceeds in earnest, it will need to amend several laws and go through complex legal procedures. In addition to MCOT's rehabilitation plan, the Ministry of Finance is also preparing to propose that the Cabinet consider reviewing the operational plans and roles of eight other state enterprises, covering approaches such as dissolution, merger, or organizational restructuring. Meanwhile, Thibordee Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, confirmed that reports claiming the Ministry of Finance is preparing to reduce its shareholding in MCOT and may allow it to merge with Thai PBS if no new private co-shareholder can be found within six months are not true, and said he views such an idea as still difficult to achieve both in principle and under current law.
MCOT Public Company LimitedState Enterprise Policy Committee approved MCOT's rehabilitation/restructuring plan, which now goes to the Cabinet for consideration.
