Palang Pracharat raises 650 million baht in fund-raising banquet

[webfact]

Palang Pracharat raises 650 million baht in fund-raising banquet

 

 

The pro-military Palang Pracharat party has raised an estimated 650 million baht – 50 million baht more than initial projection — from a fund-raising banquet held Wednesday night at Impact Muang Thong Thanee convention hall, according to its deputy leader Natthaphol Teepsuwan.

 

He said the party would cross-check each of the donations to make sure that they conform with the regulations of the Election Commission and the Political Party Act.

 

Natthaphol officially played host to the fund-raising event in place of party leader Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana following a suggestion from Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the government’s top legal hand, that key party members who still hold Cabinet posts should avoid taking to the podium in order not to risk violating the Constitution and law regarding fund raising.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/palang-pracharat-raises-650-million-baht-in-fund-raising-banquet/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-12-20

[Phuketshrew]

30 minutes ago, webfact said:

not to risk violating the Constitution and law regarding fund raising.

In raising 650 million baht they have clearly violated the recently stipulated EC limit on campaign party funding:

 

 

Will action now be taken against the Palang Parachart party?

[harada]

And a big thank you to all the generals who donated their pocket money. 

[otherstuff1957]

They will form the best government that money can buy.

 

????

[webfact]

Bellies full, but who paid?

By THE NATION

 

Phalang Pracharat Party’s extravagant fundraiser on Wednesday night.

 

Legal cloud descends on Cabinet revelry at pricey Phalang Pracharat fundraiser.
 

 

LEGAL QUESTIONS arose yesterday over how Cabinet ministers and civil servants were able to afford seats at an extravagant fundraising dinner run by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party on Wednesday.

 

The law on political parties prohibits state agencies from giving them donations of any kind or participating in their activities. 

 

Each table at Wednesday’s feast cost Bt3 million and several were reserved in the names of the Finance Ministry and state agencies including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

Four tables, worth a combined Bt12 million, were reserved in the name of Phalang Pracharat secretary-general Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, who is commerce minister in the military-led government.

 

Twenty tables – another Bt60 million in the party’s coffers – were reserved for the Finance Ministry and three for the TAT.

 

Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanet insisted yesterday that no state funds had been expended.

“We couldn’t possibly use state budget to buy seats at the banquet – it’s illegal,” he said. “Plus, as a state agency, we are non-partisan.” 

 

The Nation could not reach anyone at the TAT for comment.

 

Attending Wednesday’s feast with Sonthirat were his fellow Cabinet members Uttama Sawanayon, Kobsak Pootrakool and Suvit Maesincee.

 

None of the ministers spoke onstage, despite initial plans to have them offer remarks. 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who serves as the government’s chief legal expert, had advised against ministers attending the event from giving speeches because that would be breaking the law. Violating the law could get them banned from politics for five years, he warned.

 

Anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid said yesterday the National Anti-Corruption Commission should determine how many active civil servants attended the fund-raiser and how they obtained tickets.

 

“If somebody paid for them, they should be scrutinised for illegally receiving a gift worth more than Bt3,000. And if they paid for themselves, they should be scrutinised for being ‘unusually rich’,” Veera said.

 

 

Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, now a member of the Democrat Party, urged the Election Commission to investigate the banquet, saying there could be legal consequences.

 

The Phalang Pracharat “One United Thailand” event featured 200 banquet tables and was aimed at raising around Bt600 million for the pro-junta party. 

 

Deputy party leader Nattapol Teepsuwan said yesterday the actual take was nearly Bt650 million, against an outlay of Bt3 million.

 

For their contributions, attendees dined on rocket salad with prawns, smoked salmon, US scallops and avocado, shrimp ravioli, saikyo miso fillet of snow fish and, at the end, raspberry white chocolate and pralines. 

 

Apart from the Cabinet members who are also registered party executives, guests included businessmen, celebrities and fellow influential politicians Somsak Thepsutin, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Suwat Liptapanlop, Warathep Rattanakorn and Nikorn Chamnong.

 

Providing the entertainment were Tata Young, Radklao Amaradis, Koh Mr Saxman and the band Nuvo.

 

It was the biggest fund-raiser so far staged by any political parties during the just-started campaign season.

 

Another pro-junta party, Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT), held a bash on Tuesday but raised only about a third of what Phalang Pracharat pocketed.

 

ACT treasurer Jutathat Laothammatas announced yesterday that its dinner raised Bt234 million with 234 tables priced at Bt1 million apiece.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30360861

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-21

 

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanet insisted yesterday that no state funds had been expended.

“We couldn’t possibly use state budget to buy seats at the banquet – it’s illegal,” he said. “Plus, as a state agency, we are non-partisan.”

wouldn't be hard for professional corrupters to 'indirectly' fund this using our tax money; whole thing stinks

[Phuketshrew]

The price of keeping snouts firmly in the trough - small change compared with what will be swilling around in the trough. Maybe they will need a bigger one?

[Katipo]

When people can afford to pay 3m baht for a dinner, it gives you some perspective as to how much they must get out of it at the other end. That they can stage such an event and get away with it exemplifies all that is wrong with this country.

[Lupatria]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Nation could not reach anyone at the TAT for comment.

All spokespersons suffer from food intoxication caused by over gorge?

[klauskunkel]

It's a test run, it's called pre-troughing

[Lupatria]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Bellies full, but who paid?

This event was brought to you by our friendly sponsors:

[Nyezhov]

46 minutes ago, Katipo said:

When people can afford to pay 3m baht for a dinner, it gives you some perspective as to how much they must get out of it at the other end. That they can stage such an event and get away with it exemplifies all that is wrong with this country.

Sort of like paying 25K for meet and greets with politicians in the USA

[GarryP]

“If somebody paid for them, they should be scrutinised for illegally receiving a gift worth more than Bt3,000. And if they paid for themselves, they should be scrutinised for being ‘unusually rich’,” Veera said.

 

This is spot on.  Who paid for them? 

[AhFarangJa]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

For their contributions, attendees dined on rocket salad with prawns, smoked salmon, US scallops and avocado, shrimp ravioli, saikyo miso fillet of snow fish and, at the end, raspberry white chocolate and pralines. 

Wot !!!! No Thai somtam, green curry, Larb, and fried rice !

 

Edited December 21, 2018 by AhFarangJa

[madmitch]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“We couldn’t possibly use state budget to buy seats at the banquet – it’s illegal,” he said. “Plus, as a state agency, we are non-partisan.”

Now that really is a "Big Joke"! I can imagine the whistles hooters and boings as he came up withthis one-liner.

[janclaes47]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanet insisted yesterday that no state funds had been expended.

“We couldn’t possibly use state budget to buy seats at the banquet – it’s illegal,” he said. “Plus, as a state agency, we are non-partisan.”

As if he would give a damn about that.

[Eric Loh]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

as a state agency, we are non-partisan.” 

Will put this ridiculous howler with the other notable quotes like “ I am a democratic soldier” and “ I borrowed all those expensive watches”. Clowns on the loose. 

[holy cow cm]

How? Legal? If they sold all of Prawit’s watches they could double that. Junta are a bunch of crooks 

[DrTuner]

Mianois will rejoice.

[Redline]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

“If somebody paid for them, they should be scrutinised for illegally receiving a gift worth more than Bt3,000. And if they paid for themselves, they should be scrutinised for being ‘unusually rich’,” Veera said

With immediate urgency 

[chama]

Unfortunately the people responsible for investigating how those attending the event were able to pay this price probably had their snouts in the same tough. The rich and powerful may be corrupt but they aren't (always) dumb.

[kkerry]

Meanwhile, in a land not so very far away, one Thai family eats beef noodles...

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30360894

Edited December 21, 2018 by kkerry

[garyk]

"Each table at Wednesday’s feast cost Bt3 million and several were reserved in the names of the Finance Ministry and state agencies including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

Four tables, worth a combined Bt12 million, were reserved in the name of Phalang Pracharat secretary-general Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, who is commerce minister in the military-led government.

 

Twenty tables – another Bt60 million in the party’s coffers – were reserved for the Finance Ministry and three for the TAT."

 

Special interest groups, plain and simple.  

Lets see if I can think of a special interest group (finance, tourism) ... hummmm...  Ah, how about making all foreigners that want to stay in Thailand, have to put 800K in a Thai bank.  haha   

That alone bought every table in the house, paid for the building and bought everyone there a new house and a new car... ????

 

Edited December 21, 2018 by garyk

[SABloke]

On 12/20/2018 at 3:49 PM, Phuketshrew said:

In raising 650 million baht they have clearly violated the recently stipulated EC limit on campaign party funding:

 

 

Will action now be taken against the Palang Parachart party?

There's a likit on spending, not collecting. They're going to spend what they're allowed and keep the rest for themselves. A nice new car here, a holiday house there. I don't pity the fools.who donated

[JAG]

21 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

Wot !!!! No Thai somtam, green curry, Larb, and fried rice !

 

Uh, wrong end of the social scale don't you think?

[JAG]

Well, I suppose you could say that if the money was raised by subscription to a banquet, then at least it wasn't taken from "state coffers".

 

Posted using my new "naive-pad"...