BMA flayed over budget allocation

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A deputy government spokesman, who is known for his affiliation to the ruling-Pheu Thai Party, attacked the Democrat-led Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for allocating a Bt1-billion budget to contractors even though the term of the incumbent Bangkok governor wraps up by the end of January.

Phakdeeharn Himathongkham also called on Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to clarify the purchase of 42 water-suction trucks from Japan at Bt8 million apiece, which he said is twice the normal price. The trucks were distributed to a number of district offices, which had never asked for it.

He also alleged that the companies that sold these trucks might have connections with senior BMA officials or certain members of the BMA management.

Most of the budget will be spent on 10 sets of heavy machinery used in repairing roads and pavements. The Bt1-billion budget will be made up by a Bt100-million allocation from this year's BMA budget and the remaining Bt900 million from next year's budget. The budget request, which did not include any specifications of the items to be purchased, was scrutinised by Deputy Bangkok governor Theerachon Manomaiphibool and approved in two days.

Phakdeeharn also alleged that the contracting firms who won the bids were actually owned by Democrat MPs, adding that he would lodge this issue with the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The spokesman also questioned the approval of a project renting garbage trucks for seven years for Bt4 billion, adding that these two firms that won all four projects regularly won BMA contracts.

He said these firms could allegedly be operating through a network of proxies in order to minimise scrutiny of them conspiring to rig the bidding process of either this or earlier projects.

-- The Nation 2012-08-31

Oooooh. Snitching on your own party. Such an edifying character trait.

There will be many PTP MP's telling this guy to close his mouth. MP's are hardly the ones who should be calling others on disappearing budgets. I imagine if this goes ahead the Dems will now publicly raise corruption issues over several VERY large budget issues surrounding populist policies. Just where have the trillions of baht gone exactly in the rice pledging scheme?? This man is a fool.

The budget request, which did not include any specifications of the items to be purchased, was scrutinised by Deputy Bangkok governor Theerachon Manomaiphibool and approved in two days.

With such oversight is it any surprise that corruption and skimming is rife?

A deputy government spokesman, who is known for his affiliation to the ruling-Pheu Thai Party

A government spokesman that has an affiliation with the PTP. Who would have thought?

What happened to the good old days, when any suggestion of dodgy dealing by the Dems by would be shouted down by the usual suspects on TV? Now, the best they can do is to mumble "Well, PT do it too".

Now, the best they can do is to mumble "Well, PT do it too".

Well, PT do it too.

A deputy government spokesman, who is known for his affiliation to the ruling-Pheu Thai Party

A government spokesman that has an affiliation with the PTP. Who would have thought?

The Nation goes from strength to strength.

Oooooh. Snitching on your own party. Such an edifying character trait.

Who's snitching on his own party???

i got some kind of member of the extented family (but not married to keep his profits afloat), does lobby work for mr T family in the government... for the right bribe, sorry, price, your company will win the bid, even overpriced, not competent, etc...

With this mud being thrown, there must be an election coming-up, right ?

Nevertheless, by-all-means investigate & expose the corrupt to the cleansing light of publicity, wherever their political-loyalty lies !

Or is that why it rarely happens ?

Time for more revelations from MP Chuwit !

Whoa - not another complaint from the PTP people to divert the truth from their own inabilities?

But then if the allegations of trucks at THB 8M being double the costs? Then prove it... Photos, specs, etc. Given new prime movers (tractors for you Yanks) are only around THB 1-2.5M yes, they must be exceptional trucks to 'suck' water, but certainly not at Western pricing, this is a reasonable price.

But 10 points for the Governor allocation of funds from next years budget. Good move against possible incoming PTP governance.

On all other issues, of course Dems allocate contracts to Dems. What? You think Thaksin and his cronies did not allocate to their supporters? Get a life... This is the 'hub' of corruption - are you blind?

Keep on truckin'