Thai Taxpayers Urged To File Complaint Over MPs, Senators' Pay Rise

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MPS, SENATORS' PAY RISE

Taxpayers urged to file complaint

By The Nation

Bangkok Senator and activist Rosana Tositrakul yesterday urged unhappy taxpayers over the pay raise for MPs and Senators to file a complaint at the Administrative Court so politicians would listen to people, while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva explained the Council of State was looking at the raise and said that the minimum wage hike was to increase workers' purchasing power.

Rosana said that her announcement not to take the raise wasn't to respond to the challenge by government people - but seeing that the raise came from the Bt13 billion central budget, which was normally for emergencies, would affect the country's finance in a long term. Moreover a recent poll on people, who were the politicians' boss, said that MPs and senators shouldn't take a raise, she said, the politicians hence should do as people expected them. The constitution article 167 stipulated that a bill must be passed to control budget spending so that it won't affect the country's financial status, but the politicians didn't issue such law so the government spent with disregard to financial discipline, she said. Especially the decree for pay raise was issued by the Cabinet without the parliament's scrutiny and hence was a centralization of power at the administrative power. She said they should have passed this pay raise decree in a form of an act.

"Taxpayers should gather and file a compliant to the Administrative Court that the government abused the administrative power to pass a decree to give themselves raise and would cause damages. Win or loose doesn't matter, but at least the people's voice would be heard and the politicians would realize what they did. This government spent money, without concerning about the long-term impacts to the country's finance, to gain favors from this group, that group," she said.

While Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan told a press conference yesterday that when the country was still borrowing money from other countries no leader would borrow money to give themselves a raise except the "retard and thick-faced government".

Meanwhile the premier commented that he hasn't yet seen the Fiscal Policy Office's report that the raise to MPs, Senators and civil servants would drag the GDP down by 0.2 per cent, but the raise for civil servants were already known before the budget making. He said that the minimum wage hike would also give the workers more purchasing power and that Thailand these days can't expect the economy and investment to depend on cheaply-paid labor. Asked about Rosana's call for people to file a compliant at the Administrative Court for the raise cancellation, he said that if the raise was illegal, it wouldn't be doable and currently the Council of State was looking at it to ensure everything was legal.

Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Waiyaratphanit commented that people shouldn't look at it as a political issue but to look at a big picture especially the salary bases and living costs of all sectors - especially the law makers whose salary hadn't been raised for a long time. The raise would stimulate the money circulation and would reach farmers.

In related news Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra commented on the pay raise request for Bangkok Councilors and District Councilors - whose pay hadn't been raised for 16-17 years especially that a district councillor's salary was only Bt10,000 - that the Bangkok Council would propose to the Interior Ministry to pass onto the Cabinet's approval.

Meanwhile, the Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) officials will gather at the Royal Plaza ob December 21 to call for their pay raise after the Cabinet had stalled their raise because they were entitled to it and had called for it for 4-5 years now. Their raise was so small compared to the pay raise given to the MPs and Senators, Chiang Mai TAO President Noppadol Na Chiangmai because the salary of TOA president was only at Bt8,800.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

[asiawatcher]

Oh right - file a complaint - and then what? You think the court will control the Govt?

[Northman061]

The Thai "cattle class", bred over many centuries to know their place, bend the knee to their betters" and understands who is boss.

These same people return thieves back to political power and applaud politicians who are multi Millionaires through their skimming off projects that would benefit the electorate.

Politicians can do what they want, remain untouched by the law and live like Kings compaired to the "cattle class" below them.

File a complaint about politicians in "Amazing" Thailand................pointless.:jap:

[Colabamumbai]

The Thai "cattle class", bred over many centuries to know their place, bend the knee to their betters" and understands who is boss.

These same people return thieves back to political power and applaud politicians who are multi Millionaires through their skimming off projects that would benefit the electorate.

Politicians can do what they want, remain untouched by the law and live like Kings compaired to the "cattle class" below them.

File a complaint about politicians in "Amazing" Thailand................pointless.:jap:

Kind of like me going to the police to report my Thai wife told me I was going to die, if I did not pay her to sign divorce papers.

[housepainter]

Dear Sir,

I wish to complain about the Senators pay rise.

I have not put my address on the letter as I do not have one. When I told the Senator I was going to complain he said he knew where I lived. You can reach me through him. I think the Senator is going to help me, a poor farmer, as he asked how I fancied pushing up daisies.

I said I'd got one rai left over there and every body laughed. Well nearly everybody.

One of those many big men who open the doors for him seemed so sad as he never cracked a smile. One of them has a bad hand as he always keeps it tucked just inside his jacket.

I know things can only get better.

I expect to get a knock on the door any day now.

Thank you for your kind advice about what to do.

Som Tam Thai.

PS. I think I hear somebody now.

[mkawish]

Oh right - file a complaint - and then what? You think the court will control the Govt?

From past history, there were several cases where court rulings nullified govt contracts and such, where court in her own wisdom deemed that it was against the interests of the people and the state itself.

Yes, even in Thailand, there are still many many judges both in lower and higher courts who stay true to their vows and professions.

Even ready cash in the court house by former pm representatives, was not able to sway his honor.

May he and his assistants live long and happy life continuing their fight against rampant corruption in govt.

[Colabamumbai]

Dear Sir,

I wish to complain about the Senators pay rise.

I have not put my address on the letter as I do not have one. When I told the Senator I was going to complain he said he knew where I lived. You can reach me through him. I think the Senator is going to help me, a poor farmer, as he asked how I fancied pushing up daisies.

I said I'd got one rai left over there and every body laughed. Well nearly everybody.

One of those many big men who open the doors for him seemed so sad as he never cracked a smile. One of them has a bad hand as he always keeps it tucked just inside his jacket.

I know things can only get better.

I expect to get a knock on the door any day no

Thank you for your kind advice about what to do.

Som Tam Thai.

PS. I think I hear somebody now.

Love your sense of humor and style.