BMA's fireboats procurement draws suspicion

Suspicions were found in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's fire boat project, as the price was found to be much higher than the same specification purchased by the Royal Thai Police.

Thai Rak Thai Spokesperson Sita Thiwaree (ศิธา ทิวารี) yesterday led the press to inspect the BMA's fire boats at an assembling site in Banglamung (บางละมุง) district, Chonburi. However, the group was denied entry as it was a holiday and they also have not filed an official request. The Thai Rak Thai spokesman then ordered a large crane to the area for the cameramen to capture images from high elevation. It was found that there were only 4 fireboats at the site and nobody knew where the rest had been moved to. The group then made a note that the BMA may have been in fear of an inspection.

The Thai Rak Thai spokesman said that the purchase of all 30 fire boats involved a price 20 million baht higher than the batch earlier purchased by the police despite having the same standard.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 Febuary 2006

These boats don't come cheap. Thai versions have right hand drive at extra cost.