Bt50 Million To Be Used To Buy iPads And iPhones For Senators And MPs

[ronz28]

This is not uncommon in Government. Texas buys its Leadership and legislators the latest and greatest at least every two years or more often depending on the technology changes. Designated state agencies get the hand-me-downs. The hard drives are wiped cleaned and re-imaged with the latest software updates so its almost good as new. Rank has its privileges and they should have the best tools available.

Edited March 6, 2012 by ronz28

[petedk]

I can see that the Senators and MPs could use mobile phones and tablets but why do they have to use the most expensive models?

I work at a government university and here the teachers have to buy their own teaching materials and office equipment (even books). Something is wrong with the way the government allocates the budget.

[candyman123]

If the British government made these plans for every MP to have free Iphone4s/Ipad2's then the country would have a big demonstration in the main cities of England and downing street demanding the sacking of these responsible.

Why should the tax payer like myself have to pay for these items It's f**king wrong ...!

[Reasonableman]

This is not uncommon in Government. Texas buys its Leadership and legislators the latest and greatest at least every two years or more often depending on the technology changes. Designated state agencies get the hand-me-downs. The hard drives are wiped cleaned and re-imaged with the latest software updates so its almost good as new. Rank has its privileges and they should have the best tools available.

They are already the greatest tools available.

[OzMick]

This is not uncommon in Government. Texas buys its Leadership and legislators the latest and greatest at least every two years or more often depending on the technology changes. Designated state agencies get the hand-me-downs. The hard drives are wiped cleaned and re-imaged with the latest software updates so its almost good as new. Rank has its privileges and they should have the best tools available.

But why buy 4G equipment when Thailand is yet to have 3G? In oz, I recently picked up an iPhone3 for almost nothing when the original owner updated - and it's still way ahead of what I need in Thailand.

[kirk0233]

The extra 10 million baht can be used to purchase Iphone applications and itunes. It will aslo pay for assistants to teach the MPs how to use iphone, ipad and jailbreak.

[Thaddeus]

Before you criticize, why don't YOU try running a country? Let's see how well you do.

Thailand is very corrupt and far from perfect, but the attitude by expats no less, taken towards Thailand and bad mouthing every single thing they do is obnoxious. If you really hate this country that much, I'll call you a taxi to take you right back to the airport.

And the xenophobic rant of a Thaiwannabe once again raises its voice.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Thaddeus

[theanimaster]

I am personally disgusted with this, but let's look at the bright side: they are being TRANSPARENTLY CORRUPT. There's a SLIGHT chance Thais would see this, but again, I emphasise the word SLIGHT.

I am ~SO~ pushing through with this game concept I'm working with. It's called THAILAND: the BORED Game. It's a game for up to 6 players: The Government, The Opposition, The Red Shirts, The Yellow Shirts, The Military and The Elite. Your objective (playing any of these roles) is to gain and maintain control of areas in Thailand, until you have complete control over the country i.e.: the entire population favours you, or, until the other players give up. You gain control over areas through EVENTS (which are based on real events) etc. It's my way of trying to educate the Thais about the sh*t that's happening right in front of their own shut-eyes.

I would be glad if someone would help me realise this project. Fight back corruption with fun and EDUCATION, that's all I'm sayin.

[GeorgeO]

I'm shocked that more people are not simply dead straight opposed to this proposal...!!

If MPs want better technology, then they should pay for it themselves like everyone else. There is no way that government money should be used for such frivolous projects, it should be directed at more appropriate projects for the good of the nation.

This nation's poor will only stand by for so long watching good money being wasted on the rich while they beg for fair compensation for the damage that they suffered in the recent floods. As I noted earlier this week, it smacks of Marie Antoinette "let them eat cake" (okay, I am aware that she denied ever saying that), but that approach did not have a happy endning!

First it was a 20M Baht garden party and now 50M Baht's worth of rich people's toys...! When is this country going to get a government in place which is capable of dealing with the 'real' issues..??

[jimbeam1]

A bit expensive

700 x Iphones at approx 26,000 is under 20,000,000 baht, and Ipads are not that expensive

so where is the rest of the money going?

Yingluck... Please do something about corruption in your government!

She is. lol

jb1

[newermonkey]

POLITICS

Plan to give MPs iPADs and smart phones comes under fire

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A government plan to give MPs and senators Tablet PCs and smart phones have been heavily criticised by social media users and some parliamentarians.

Senator Rosana Tositrakul, was one who opposes the idea. "Our country already has much debt so we should save the money," she said.

Rosana said the notebook computer that MPs and senators get should be enough for their work. "No need for tablets or mobile phones."

Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij revealed the plan to buy tablet computers for senators and MPs to a Senate committee last Wednesday and the meeting had no comment on it, Rosana said. She is a member of the Senate panel on preventing corruption and promoting good governance.

On Twitter, many users questioned whether the parliamentarians will utilise the devices.

@paenewfolder said: "I think it is more or less surely about commission. Are (the gadgets) necessary for them? No. But they will take them if they are given. But what they are going to use the gadget for?"

@Bodee said: "It is important who started this, and what the prime minister thinks about it. The public should now."

@kidousenshi posted: "What kind of an iPhone costs over Bt70,000? NACC should investigate."

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol yesterday confirmed the Bt50-million plan, saying that with such a budget they could purchase handsets and licensed programmes. Some 700 sets of equipment would be procured and the next step was to identify equipment specifications.

Tablets and smart phones would be provided to MPs, senators and senior officers of the Parliament (director level and upper).

Charoen said earlier the Parliament secretariat had identified the "best" available equipment.

Democrat MP Boonyod Suktinthai, a member of the House Affairs committee, said the panel had not officially discussed the issue but there had been talk that a survey should be conducted to learn about parliamentarians' needs and necessities.

He explained that the House Speaker had authority to decide what to do with funds remaining from last year. In this case, Deputy House Speaker Charoen was in charge of the project.

Boonyod said he only knew about plans to give out iPad tablet PCs, but not iPhones as well.

"Some MPs are used to the laptop they are using, and they don't want to learn to use the touch screen. I still see some MPs carrying the Toshiba laptops nowadays," he said.

Boonyod was referring to Toshiba laptops bought by the Parliament and given to the previous group of House MPs to work on. They signed forms noting that they had been given the laptops on loan and some were still using them.

Meanwhile, some new MPs had received Lenovo laptops, allegedly donated by the Chinese government, instead of Toshiba laptops, which some former MPs had failed to return to the Parliament.

Boonyod gave an example of the air-card Internet-connection device that Parliament provided to MPs, as a problem in the past. While many members did not use it, Parliament needed to pay a monthly fee for this.

However, Boonyod said he did not think any MP would complain if they were given iPADs or tablets.

"It is human nature. When something is given for free, we accept without complaining. If any MP doesn’t use it, (he or she) can let their secretary or assistant use it. MPs won't complain about getting free items. They will complain only if they don't get it or they don't get it equally to what other MPs get."

Boonyod said a concern was that Parliament might buy the products at higher prices than it should pay. And applications would make the cost more, so applications should be provided only if necessary.

Government chief whip Udomdej Ratanasathien said the project was Parliament's plan for human resource development and to use the equipment for communication and coordination. It was no problem that some parliamentarians already had such equipment as it was for the welfare of MPs and he believed they would utilise it to some extent.

A key Pheu Thai member, who asked not to be named, said that in the latter period of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, Pheu Thai Party gave each MP an iPhone 4 handset so they could talk to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra via Skype - so they could see each other's faces and hear their voices. Thaksin also had phone numbers of all MPs and followed their popularity.

The giving away of mobile phones was due to thinking about the next election, he said. Many MPs were not familiar with the use of smart phone or learning new programmes. They asked their children to teach them how to use them and thought it was their burden having to carry another phone besides their own.

Bangkok Council chairman Suthichai Weerakulsoonthorn, meanwhile, said yesterday the council also planned to give Tablet PC to its members, so they can receive complaints from people via Facebook and email. The council would use its own budget, as Tablet PCs were no longer very costly. He insisted the project would happen.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

The government is just the same as my teenage son, I will spend 10 min lecturing him on reckless spending, pointing out most clearly that "this month we don't have much money" then he will wait a few seconds and say "yes sorry I understand.... but can i have 1,00 Baht? I want to go out drinking with my friends tonight !"

[KKK]

Can't they get the same tablets for MP's as for the school kids?

Somehow that seems appropriate........

The kids deserve better....they are, after all, students with, on average, zero to moderate income..while the senators ?????????????

[spidermike007]

This is a very good thing for Thailand. The senators and MPs are very poor people, who need the governments assistance. They cannot afford these devices on their own, and it would be a shame to think they would be seen with lesser devices, by the general public. Another wise and wonderful decision by a government that is rivaled by the Philippines as the least smart, least effective, most corrupt, and least effective in all of ASEAN. Thailand is going backwards, and this house of fools is insuring it, on a daily basis.

[mic6ard]

Sure buy Iphones and Ipad for the MP who most likely already have them.

And when their terms end, will the Igadgets be given back? Or are they "gifts" from the state.

For those who complaint of the number not adding up, tried adding in cost of accessories? Apps downloads???

[thaicruze]

I think it is a good idea. In the US they used to do blackberry. I think iPads and iPhones are a much better idea for government.

If used properly, it can make communication easier. They can also get work done on the go. Reply to emails, edit documents, work in reminders and set up meetings and calendar events, etc etc without being stuck to a computer. All this stuff will sync with iCloud automatically.

It's the 21st century. Get used to it.

They already have laptop computers supplied by the state. this is just opportunistic. if they want to be MORE mobile they should buy it themselves. just like most other people do.

So you want them to schlep a laptop around? Send and receive emails whenever they can find a wifi signal?

They can buy it themselves. Sure. Nobody is arguing that. The government will spend the million dollars how it wants.

[thaicruze]

Can't they get the same tablets for MP's as for the school kids?

Somehow that seems appropriate........

The kids deserve better....they are, after all, students with, on average, zero to moderate income..while the senators ?????????????

They're already spending way too much as it is. Too many students to get anything else. They need something that works and is easy to repair.

Edited March 6, 2012 by thaicruze

[Thaddeus]

I think it is a good idea. In the US they used to do blackberry. I think iPads and iPhones are a much better idea for government.

If used properly, it can make communication easier. They can also get work done on the go. Reply to emails, edit documents, work in reminders and set up meetings and calendar events, etc etc without being stuck to a computer. All this stuff will sync with iCloud automatically.

It's the 21st century. Get used to it.

They already have laptop computers supplied by the state. this is just opportunistic. if they want to be MORE mobile they should buy it themselves. just like most other people do.

So you want them to schlep a laptop around?

Are you somehow suggesting that they may be too feeble to lift one.

[thaicruze]

I think it is a good idea. In the US they used to do blackberry. I think iPads and iPhones are a much better idea for government.

If used properly, it can make communication easier. They can also get work done on the go. Reply to emails, edit documents, work in reminders and set up meetings and calendar events, etc etc without being stuck to a computer. All this stuff will sync with iCloud automatically.

It's the 21st century. Get used to it.

They already have laptop computers supplied by the state. this is just opportunistic. if they want to be MORE mobile they should buy it themselves. just like most other people do.

So you want them to schlep a laptop around?

Are you somehow suggesting that they may be too feeble to lift one.

A laptop is not a real time communications device.

[anterian]

Whilst I think this is totally inappropriate, in response to those asking where the extra money goes, might I suggest software and maintenance.

[thaicruze]

Before you criticize, why don't YOU try running a country? Let's see how well you do.

Thailand is very corrupt and far from perfect, but the attitude by expats no less, taken towards Thailand and bad mouthing every single thing they do is obnoxious. If you really hate this country that much, I'll call you a taxi to take you right back to the airport.

And the xenophobic rant of a Thaiwannabe once again raises its voice.

It has nothing to do with xenophobia. Do you know what that word means?

We are GUESTS in this country. Working immigrants on a work visa.

What would you say if Mexicans got a forum in the USA and all they did was complain about everything in the USA? What would you say to them?

I know what I would say "America isn't perfect and it is corrupt, but if you hate it that much, why don't you fuc_k off back to Mexico?"

That is hardly xenophobic. That's not being either fearful or disliking people of other countries. That's just asking a simple question.

You're here. You're a guest. Thailand is what it is. It isn't going to change for some Falangs in a forum. What's the point of arguing everything? Let them spend all the money they want on whatever they want.

You are still getting paid right? Take your check and enjoy it.

Edited March 6, 2012 by thaicruze

[Katipo]

I've never seen an iPad used for anything other than playing games, websurfing (usually facebook), looking at photos, and to make it's owner look like an even bigger <deleted>... taking photos.

Perhaps if we could get a list of the productivity tools the MP's would be using on their iPads for the betterment of society it might put the naysayers minds at ease. I shall now hold my breathe.....

[Thaddeus]

What would you say if Mexicans got a forum in the USA and all they did was complain about everything in the USA? What would you say to them?

If their complaint was valid and brought about change that was beneficial to all, I'd say "well done"

[DocN]

Before you criticize, why don't YOU try running a country? Let's see how well you do.

Thailand is very corrupt and far from perfect, but the attitude by expats no less, taken towards Thailand and bad mouthing every single thing they do is obnoxious. If you really hate this country that much, I'll call you a taxi to take you right back to the airport.

And the xenophobic rant of a Thaiwannabe once again raises its voice.

It has nothing to do with xenophobia. Do you know what that word means?

We are GUESTS in this country. Working immigrants on a work visa.

What would you say if Mexicans got a forum in the USA and all they did was complain about everything in the USA? What would you say to them?

I know what I would say "America isn't perfect and it is corrupt, but if you hate it that much, why don't you fuc_k off back to Mexico?"

"It's a free country, you are entitled to have your opinion and to state it and if it is sound and reasonable, I hope someone will listen!"

...any more questions?

[Rionoir]

These officials don't have any concept of the idea of serving the people... they don't even pretend to serve the people they are so far removed from the concept.

[thaicruze]

I've never seen an iPad used for anything other than playing games, websurfing (usually facebook), looking at photos, and to make it's owner look like an even bigger <deleted>... taking photos.

Perhaps if we could get a list of the productivity tools the MP's would be using on their iPads for the betterment of society it might put the naysayers minds at ease. I shall now hold my breathe.....

Why do you need to "see a list" of anything the Thai government does? What do they owe you? They give you a visa and they pay you. They take taxes out of your check and will use it to run the country that gives you a check and a visa. That's all you need to worry about. Thailand doesn't have to show you anything.

[thaicruze]

What would you say if Mexicans got a forum in the USA and all they did was complain about everything in the USA? What would you say to them?

If their complaint was valid and brought about change that was beneficial to all, I'd say "well done"

Wake me up the day a falang's complaining brings about change in Thailand.

Hahahahahah

Do something more productive with your time.

[tragickingdom]

Senators especially appointed ones have hardly any clue where they will be saving money with and what cost money. I bet that the Nation newspaper is still using typewriters instead of computers and that they use black old phones instead iPhones or Androids. People opposing these kinds of moves appeal to populist ideas that spending money is by definition bad. Worse they probably run companies that benefit from doing things the old fashioned way. After all if you run a Xerox maintenance company you are screwed, No paper needed anymore, no costs for books anymore, no printed matter that is probably costing more per quarter than the iPad or Android cost one it's lifespan. What to think about ways to protect your information. I assume the senator does not like that either. You can after all not lave it "unattended" for your press people to look at it. it is password protected or even traceable to the source.

It is about time that these people entered the new world. They are still living in the time of the old unelected Prime Minister Prem and that was a long long time ago.

[spidermike007]

invest in traffic radar instead to save children......

I asked a guy to stop speeding in or village once. He decided he wanted to kick my A#@. He said I asked him to loud, I guess he thought he could hear me over his roaring engine at a normal tone.

Long story short the motorcycle taxis showed up with the police in Tow, only to inform me that because I asked him to slow down the fight was my fault. That we were not supposed to tell others how to drive even if your children are at risk of being killled. What I am getting at is that the radars wouldn't work.. as we are not allowerd to tell people to slow down.

sounds like bs to me. I think it's because your a foreigner and he's a native Thai, probably with a high status in the local society. I don't know your complete situation and don't want to cause you any trouble so think it through on your own, but if it were me I'd risk being at fault for the safety of my family.

The Thais are incredibly proud people, and a portion of them have more ignorance than you can imagine. In this instance, it would have been OK to just tell the police officer "blow me you pig". He was obviously bought and paid for by this creep that you had the misfortune to run into. It was all about a fareng telling a Thai what to do. How could you possibly know what was right? But, the reality here is that it does not take much to set off some Thais. Especially the ignorant ones looking to make problems. I continue to mouth off to the really foul types, but it does get me in trouble from time to time. Problem is, I have a hard time shutting up, when I see buffoons doing ridiculously stupid things!

[LordPoona]

probably should have spent that money on students and gotten 3x as many tablets from india or china..

dont think senators will have a hard time purchasing those on their own..

[sparebox2]

I say the iPad is a form of bribe. A open and legal corruption?

Why can't they use the $81 tablet? The same one they approve for Thai's next generation people usage?