Don't Rush Decision On Moving: New Thai Parliament Complex

[webfact]

Don't rush decision on moving

The Nation

Senior parliamentarians yesterday urged that due care be taken in any consideration of a proposal to have the construction site of the new Parliament complex changed again due to fear of flooding.

Senator Jittipong Viriyaroj, who heads the Senate committee on monitoring constitutional organisations and following up on budgets, said the people involved should spend a month or two carefully considering the pros and cons of shifting to a new site.

"If the reason for movement is simply fear of flooding, I do not think that is appropriate. There are prevention measures available, such as building embankments like in the Netherlands and in Venice, Italy," Jittipong said.

He added, however, that he did not think moving to a new location would adversely affect the construction of a new Parliament complex or the budget allocated for the project.

Democrat MP Nipon Boonyamanee, who is deputy chairman of the House of Representatives committee on following up on budgets, said he did not think a proposal by a single person would result in changing the nationally important project.

"Some of the construction funds have been spent, and this fact should be taken into consideration. We should avoid wasting the money," he said.

First deputy House speaker Charoen Jankomol earlier urged that the site of the new Parliament complex be moved away from the proposed riverside location in the Kiakkai area. He cited concerns about flooding in areas along the Chao Phraya River.

Some communities in Kiakkai were also affected by severe flooding in the capital recently.

Charoen, an MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, denied his proposal was aimed at terminating a project initiated by former House speaker Chai Chidchob from the rival Bhum Jai Thai Party.

A source said the Comptroller General's Department had been consulted by the Parliament to determine whether the hiring of four contractors for the project's construction was lawful and whether cancellation of the contract would result in damage to the Parliament.

An initial recommendation by the Parliament committee dealing with the construction project called for cancellation of the contract with the four construction companies - Italian-Thai Development, Syntec Construction, Powerline and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, according to the source. A new round of bidding would be held, with the four being allowed to contest again.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

[Reasonableman]

"We should avoid wasting the money".... Right... If the first decision was faulty, we should stick to it come hell or high water (sic).

Downtown Bangkok did not flood, so why not relocate there? Are we working to the Burmese model, moving the Parliament to a location without a strong urban educated middle class? Does anyone understand the imperative to relocate at all?

[whybother]

Don't build parliament there. Build houses instead.

[haveaniceday]

Just curious, where is the current new building being constructed?

Some post indicating it is not in Bangkok city ?

[Thaddeus]

There was I, diggin' this hole, hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was........

[SomTumTiger]

No need to build a new parliament building. Build a whore house and gambling den instead - then the MP's will feel more comfortable (staying in their natural environment).

[Bagwan]

There was I, diggin' this hole, hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was........

So we all had a cup of tea money and then we went home.

oops - that was from Right said Fred. SNAFU

[Thaddeus]

There was I, diggin' this hole, hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was........

So we all had a cup of tea money and then we went home.

oops - that was from Right said Fred. SNAFU

Bernard Cribbins is a genius, voice of the Wombles too, most of Thailand could do with some help from the Wombles.

[Ricardo]

Actually I think Thailand is quite good at recycling, most villages seem to have a family who make their living from it, perhaps the Wombles' family have a S.E.Asian branch ?

That would also explain the Thai wat being in Wimbledon !

[Thaddeus]

Actually I think Thailand is quite good at recycling, most villages seem to have a family who make their living from it,

Yep, every village has one family that are good at it.