Election Official Defends Need For New Cars, Including Benzes

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Pro-democracy activists stage a protest Monday at Election Commission to demand an election be held in February.

 

BANGKOK — The Election Commission said Friday that taxpayers must foot the bill for tens of millions of baht worth of new cars needed by its directors.

 

Commission sec-gen Krit Urwongse said the purchase, budgeted at roughly 22 million baht, is necessary because the current vehicles used by the commissioners are aged and prone to breaking down.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/01/11/election-official-defends-need-for-new-cars-including-benzes/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2019-01-11

P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C.

I have a Vios in good nick they can use ?

"Each of the new vehicles would cost between 2.7 million baht and 4.2 million baht, depending on seniority, Krit said, saying that at least two of them would get Mercedes-Benz cars"

 

So I'm assuming the ones with the highest seniority get the 4.2 million baht cars. Would be interesting to know their monthly salary, and how that salary relates to them getting such expensive 'cars'. Guess it would be similar to election commissioners in developed countries being driven around in Bentleys and Rolls Royces.

And since when is it necessary for election officials to have a Benz?  Oh, wait, never mind.  I forgot where I was for a moment. 

And never heard about LEASING either at the EC...!

Get the bus !or even take a taxi,better than wasting 22 Million.

regards Worgeordie

Ah..the usual as they never stop.

 

They are astonishingly shameless.

The British Prime Minister is driven around in a Jaguar XJ. The Jaguar XJ starts off at 54,000 pounds (2.2 million baht - I know, I know, her car will be more expensive with the add-ons and armour, etc) But that should give a little perspective on the this raping of the budget. 

 

These election guys must be important if they're getting such expensive cars. Someone should tell the PM 'cos he obviously doesn't think so. 

Bend over taxpayers, we're still not gratified!

What a JOKE!!!   The whole thing, and all those involved in it.

 

Perhaps this is a bit of incentive for them from the powers that be for their cooperation in the latest election delay.

 

P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C.

-S.

Why do they need to drive around such a lot? There are no elections going on that they'd need to observe and direct, are there?

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

the current vehicles used by the commissioners are aged and prone to breaking down.

The commissioners are in a similar state, can they be replaced by updated models too?

40 years ago I faced a career choice, teaching or the Civil Service, foolishly I chose teaching. 

The aged and broken  down government should be replaced first.

 

Prayuth will duly approve this as a return favour for propping up his election delays.

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Election Official Defends Need For New Cars, Including Benzes

Why do Election officials need new cars when there is no election and it's not looking like there will be one any time soon. There has been no election for over 8 years so how do they manage to wear out their cars. 

17 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Why do Election officials need new cars when there is no election and it's not looking like there will be one any time soon. There has been no election for over 8 years so how do they manage to wear out their cars. 

The road to the mia noi's house is rather bumpy!

If they're provided by the Government then I would guess they would write off the tax.

 

So a Benz is effectively the same price as you or I would pay for a Vios!

 

Nice perk though, considering they haven't had much to do for the past five years!

37 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Ah..the usual as they never stop.

 

They are astonishingly shameless.

Yes it's all about status, all about impressing other people, all about looking important.

 

This reminds me of the incident maybe 2 major elections back, about 2 days before voting started all of the election commissioners suddenly departed on a 10 day jaunt to Europe, therefore all of them away when the election actually took place.

 

One of the commissioners was a loud very direct middle aged woman, she often put herself forward as the spokesperson.

 

Her comment:

 - All the commissioners are entitled to a major trip abroad for study purposes once a year / once every 2 years (can't remember the full details on that point).

 

- They were entitled to 2 or 3 days paid sight-seeing as part of the trip abroad.

 

- There was a regulation that only 50% (???) of the commissioners could be out of the country at the same time.

 

- None of the commissioners had taken 'the trip' and there was concern that after the election all or most of the commissioners would be replaced.

 

- So all of them departed immediately, at the most inappropriate timing, damn morals and ethics, damn the regulations, damn Thailand. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s ganatred looking 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

because the current vehicles used by the commissioners are aged and prone to breaking down.

'How aged?' I have to ask. Further proof, were it necessary, that even in these what we might all sensibly regard as inter-government times, this pro-elite, money & material minded regime sees fit to squandour these many millions of baht and probably for no other reason than to hold 2-fingers up at their public. They deserve slapping.

Top Reasons for Postponing-Canceling an Election in Thailand:

 

--it's not an "auspicious day"

 

--our new Mercedes Benz' haven't arrived yet

 

--somebody's fancy dog ate all the ballots

 

--it's been so long since the last election that we don't remember how to hold one

 

--we're still consulting with Russia and Cambodia on how to run our elections like theirs

 

--more than one party wants to be listed on the ballot, and we can't have that

 

--because we haven't yet reached our limit on total postponements yet

 

--because we have the guns, and you don't

 

--because, we CAN, and there's nothing you can do about it!!!

 

 

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

22 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Top Reasons for Postponing-Canceling an Election in Thailand:

 

--it's not an "auspicious day"

 

--our new Mercedes Benz' haven't arrived yet

 

--somebody's fancy dog ate all the ballots

 

--it's been so long since the last election that we don't remember how to hold one

 

--we're still consulting with Russia and Cambodia on how to run our elections like theirs

 

--more than one party wants to be listed on the ballot, and we can't have that

 

--because we haven't yet reached our limit on total postponements yet

 

--because we have the guns, and you don't

 

--because, we CAN, and there's nothing you can do about it!!!

 

 

The last two lines !!!!!  No further comment 

2 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

And since when is it necessary for election officials to have a Benz?  Oh, wait, never mind.  I forgot where I was for a moment. 

Since it's very very dangerous on the Thai roads...the most dangerous of the world!

 

And don't think they'll solve that issue, of course not....they just buy safe cars and the poor thai have to pay for that ????

 

Thailand 4.1

I'm happier not having a car.

They add insult to injury - constantly. Go on, Thai Masters - keep throwing detritus and excrement in the ordinary Thais' faces. You love Thailand so much, don't you, you 'Good People'? Come on - sing your wonderful patriotic song - and then urinate all over your fellow gagged Thais.

 

You are abject scum (but the Thais who are protesting are solid gold in character - got guts).

Thus are the noses juxtaposed with the trough, and favours are repaid from the public purse.

 

It ought to be disgusting, but then it ought to be surprising...

Peanuts .. still, why do the officials need to be chauffeured around, aren't they desk jockeys?

what election is that then,? you lot have been in a coma, they have had one, well i know the result already lol

7 hours ago, Reigntax said:

The aged and broken  down government should be replaced first.

 

Prayuth will duly approve this as a return favour for propping up his election delays.

Approving the purchase is not up to Prayuth.

 

Rightly or wrongly fixed regulations already in place for years 'approve' the purchase.