MCOT Public Company Limited

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, or DE, together with the Thai Meteorological Department, the Government Public Relations Department, and MCOT Public Company Limited, has opened the Climate Data Communication Cooperation Center to improve the dissemination of weather forecasts and natural disaster information so that it is clearer, easier to understand, and more accessible to the public. Mr. Phatcharaphon Anantasilp, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, disclosed that the establishment of the center follows a Cabinet resolution, which assigned the DE Ministry, through the Thai Meteorological Department, as the lead agency in preparing and communicating climate data, together with the spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, the Government Public Relations Department, and MCOT, so that information released to the public is accurate and consistent. The Thai Meteorological Department will adjust the presentation of weather forecasts and natural disaster information to make it easier to understand, while still adhering primarily to factual data and academic principles, and in the event of a major incident it will present information through symbols and numerical levels to reflect severity, along with comparisons to past flood or natural disaster events. The dissemination will use the same data set across all channels, including the Government Public Relations Department, MCOT, the Government House communication channels, television, radio, social media, and the mass media. At the same time, the DE Ministry will continuously monitor and verify distorted information. The public can follow information through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand, or AFNC, on both social media and its website, and can report leads or verify fake news via the hotline 1111 extension 87, 24 hours a day.

Thibodi Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, disclosed that reports of a merger between MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS television station, are impossible, because the two organizations operate under different legal provisions. However, the Ministry of Finance is preparing to propose that the Cabinet consider guidelines for resolving MCOT's problems, as well as review the operational plans and roles of eight other state enterprises, in order to assess their future direction, covering approaches such as dissolution, merger, or organizational restructuring, so that these agencies can operate efficiently and keep pace with changing economic conditions. Thibodi said he will wait to submit the matter to the Cabinet, which includes the MCOT issue and is likely to include the eight state enterprises as well, and will then hold another press conference. Earlier, the State Enterprise Policy Committee, or SEPO Board, approved a study to review the roles of eight state enterprises: the Marketing Organization for Farmers, the Public Warehouse Organization, the Market Organization, the Police Printing Office under the Royal Thai Police, the Playing Card Factory, the Liquor Organization, Bangkok Dock Company Limited, and MCOT Public Company Limited.