A number of its subcommittees and panels are working with the newly established committees under the government’s supreme committee, or the Por Yor Por, introduced early this year by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Alongkorn told The Nation in response to reports the NRSA had called off six consecutive meetings in the past three weeks despite each member receiving over Bt100,000 salary every month.

The NRSA vice president said the “road map” to democracy – the grand scheme of which the reform is part – has now entered its second phase under the supervision of the Por Yor Por. In this phase, the NRSA has to work on the reform plan which covers more than 40 topics under 27 urgent reform points, in addition to dozens of legislations, he explained.

All are set to be completed this year, he added.

From next year until 2021, at least 32 major reform issues must also be planned for further implementation, Alongkorn said. Hence, the NRSA tried to speed up the work in the meantime, he said.

In the official document detailing the suspension of the weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday, the NRSA reasoned the move is warranted to give members time to work.

Besides preparing the reform plan to assist the Por Yor Por, Alongkorn said NRSA members are also reviewing recommendation reports regarding the 142 reform points pushed in the first phase of the road map.

He emphasised the NRSA focused more on these rather than the discussing and passing plans and draft bills in the big chamber.

Completed proposals that are among the first priorities will be reviewed by the NRSA whip before entering the assembly, he said.

The National Legislative Assembly, appointed by the ruling junta’s National Council for Peace and Order, last month was hit by a scandal after it was revealed some of its member – notably the junta head’s brother General Preecha Chan-o-cha – were frequently absent from meetings.

Questions were subsequently raised about other agencies set up by the coup-installed regime, including the NRSA, with regards to their efficiency and effectiveness – whether they are working hard enough given their salaries come at the expense of taxpayers who had not elected them.

NRSA members each receive a total monthly allowance of Bt113,560 – an amount considered a great deal of money for the average person in the country, where the daily minimum wage is Bt300 and an average graduate earns about Bt15,000.