Lawmaker Calls For Abolishing Internal Security Agency
Lawmaker Wan Nor proposes dissolving the Internal Security Operations Command, calling it redundant with overlapping functions and citing its controversial shooting of MPs as its only notable recent activity, urging the budget be redirected
At a parliamentary committee meeting on July 7, 2025 to consider the 2570 fiscal year budget bill, Wan Muhammad Nor Mata of the Prachahat Party criticized the Internal Security Command (ISOC), stating its operations clearly duplicate work done by other agencies and should be abolished. He noted that the agency had minimal functions before 2006 but expanded significantly after the coup, with redundant mandates overlapping with the National Security Council and Royal Thai Police.
Nor questioned whether ISOC's billions in annual spending over many years represents good value, given limited tangible achievements. He argued that the only recent notable action was the shooting of MPs months earlier, and questioned whether such operations are even ISOC's responsibility. "If we talk about accomplishments, there's only one thing—shooting MPs," he said, noting that ISOC vehicles, weapons, and personnel are now involved in court cases.
Nor proposed reallocating ISOC's budget to help impoverished citizens rather than maintaining redundant structures. He called on the National Security Council secretary-general to audit ISOC's spending and personnel numbers since 2006, evaluate actual benefits against costs, and determine whether other agencies could perform ISOC's functions. "If it's unnecessary, don't hesitate to cut it," he urged, arguing the savings should benefit the poor.
