Ministry Of Transport Investigates Airport Express Link Project

[Jai Dee]

Ministry of Transport investigates Airport Express Link project

The Deputy Minister of Transport is establishing a special committee to investigate construction contracts for the Airport Express Link project.

Deputy Minister of Transport Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม) recently conducted a training project to develop internal security knowledge for officials under the Ministry of Transport in order to improve the efficiency of personnel in maintaining security in areas under their responsibilities, and to ensure the safety of the lives of citizens.

The Deputy Minister of Transport also revealed that his ministry has established a special committee chaired by Deputy Permanent Secretary Surachai Tharnsithipong (สุรชัย ธารสิทธิพงษ์ ) to investigate the legality of construction contracts obtained by a consulting company for the Airport Express Link project. A detailed report on the investigation is expected to be complete by the end of August.

The Deputy Minister of Transport affirms that the Airport Express Link project will continue to progress regardless of investigations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 June 2007

[Huw]

I have felt it very promising to see corruption charges being lodged against previous cabinet members, though I frankly doubt it will ever change the pervasive corruption at all levels in Thailand. I was asked for 'tea-money' from a copper in the last week so it is clearly still alive and well, though Thais will never admit corruption is endemic in Thailand because it would cause them to alter their own (rather optimistic) self-image.

I recently had occasion to call the police to complain about being ripped off by a Thai who simply stole my money (and before the Bendix troll starts on about being smart, it has nothing to do with being smart or stupid). The police were a waste of time. The major concern is to get back to their gambling machines rather than apply the actual law. They tried for an hour to persuade me that the thief was actually behaving reasonably! I suspect they had some sort of 'relationship' with the kamoey.

Hardly a wonder that nobody outside the Magic Kingdom actually takes Thais seriously. Or even notice them until they start belly-aching about something. Something the Thais just can't seem to understand is that, in general, the world appreciates integrity, and expects at least minimal amounts of it.

H