All Buddhist monks in Thailand with seats in university councils will need to declare their assets, according to a new rule enforced by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Only the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Sangharaja, who chairs the Mahamakut Buddhist University’s council— Mahamakut Buddhist University is the most important university for monks in Thailand—, is exempt from the rule as he has been chosen and appointed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The asset and liability regulation was issued on 1 November under a new anti-corruption law and is the latest measure to counter corruption, expanding the categories of persons required to declare their assets to the NACC to senior officials in the public sector, including high-level monks who sit on university councils, top executives of public organizations and state funds, and chiefs of the Armed Forces.

The rule, which is scheduled to take effect on 2 December, led to much furor. Many officials and monks threatened to leave their posts should the NACC’s new requirement be enforced. Following a discussion with the Thai government’s legal expert, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the NACC proposed delaying the enforcement of the regulation to allow for universities and other public bodies to fill the posts left empty by the resignations.

“What we can do for them now is to consider postponing the day the new rule becomes effective,” said NACC president Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, “but we can’t exempt them from asset declaration.” (The Nation)

“This way [by postponing the enforcement if the rule] , current council members will have more time to reflect and prepare themselves. Those who stay can prepare asset declarations. For those who will quit, they can do so. Affected university councils should have enough time to fill vacant seats,” added Watcharapol. (The Nation)