Thai water agency strongly defends K-Water

[webfact]

Thai water agency strongly defends K-Water
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 27 – A senior Thai government official today categorically denied an allegation of unscrupulous business operations against a South Korean contractor which won two of Thailand’s mega water management projects.

Suphot Tovichakchaikul, secretary general of the National Water and Flood Management Policy Office, described as groundless a statement by the South Korean Federation of Environmental Movements (SKFEM) which claimed that Korea Water Resources Cooperation (K-Water) is currently over 700 per cent indebted and incapable of achieving its assigned projects in South Korea.

K-Water, which won two projects worth Bt163 billion in Thailand, is a state enterprise wholly owned by the South Korean government, he said.

He said the financial performances for 2002-2012, submitted by K-Water, were valued at Bt680 billion – much higher than the requirement of at least Bt30 billion.

The South Korean embassy in Thailand has endorsed the qualifications of K-Water which was ranked A by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s credit ratings.

Mr Suphot stood firm that the bids on water management projects were carried out transparently without favouritism or political interference.

South Korean activist organisation SKFEM said it was found that the building of dams in that country's four rivers by K-Water was done without assessment or participation by the local communities and the the company damaged natural resources, compelling investigation by the South Korean National Audit and Prosecution Agency. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-27

[Thai at Heart]

This is funny. They got into business with a bankrupted Korean government body, to pay them money to carry out a construction which is probably never going to happen.

[ratcatcher]

Suphot Tovichakchaikul, related to Surapong Tovichakchaikul? ,

"Mr Suphot stood firm that the bids on water management projects were carried out transparently without favouritism or political interference".

Yep, OK Roger that sir! No political interference.

[ChrisY1]

"allegation of unscrupulous business operations against a South Korean contractor which won two of Thailand’s mega water management projects."

Just can't believe that this Government would deal with an unscrupulous company for major works......could'nt happen here in Thailand ????.....Could it??

[MaxLee]

Korean just by name, to make it SOUND like International Water firm,... but I'm sure they are all Thai....

[scorecard]

Funny how this reminds me of 300? police stations never completed?

Edited June 27, 2013 by scorecard

[Thai at Heart]

Korean just by name, to make it SOUND like International Water firm,... but I'm sure they are all Thai....

Korean companies aren't bound by anti corruption laws as European or American. Quite what they know about building dams in a flood plain is irrelevant apparently.

[hellodolly]

"Suphot Tovichakchaikul, secretary general of the National Water and Flood Management Policy Office, described as groundless a statement by the South Korean Federation of Environmental Movements (SKFEM) which claimed that Korea Water Resources Cooperation (K-Water) is currently over 700 per cent indebted and incapable of achieving its assigned projects in South Korea."

Well if that is true they will get the contract for sure.

They would seem to have low enough credibility to meet the standards set by the Government in office now.

[Neilly]

Mr Suphot stood firm that the bids on water management projects were carried out transparently without favouritism or political interference.

[Thai at Heart]

Nice to see that the Thai news agencies did even rudimentary homework on who is going to build the nations flood defences.

I presume the Chinese contractors who won bids aren't expecting to build their stuff with 9 year old labour also.

[bigbamboo]

Suphot Tovichakchaikul, related to Surapong Tovichakchaikul? ,

"Mr Suphot stood firm that the bids on water management projects were carried out transparently without favouritism or political interference".

Yep, OK Roger that sir! No political interference.

I hope that's not the case given that Surapong is the bearer of the order of the white elephant.

And Thailand doesn't need any more of those.

edit

Edited June 27, 2013 by bigbamboo

[webfact]

CHANNEL 5
K-water TV report cut for safety
THE NATION



Director says 'Hardcore News' trimmed as precaution against suits

BANGKOK: -- TV Channel 5 director-general Chatchai Sarikalaya yesterday explained the on-air suspension of "Hardcore News" programme's report on Wednesday evening about Korea Water Resources Corp (K-water)'s alleged shaky financial situation.

He said dropping the report was a precaution because the news item remained unclear and could lead to lawsuits.

Meanwhile a K-water executive, flying directly from South Korea, would clarify this afternoon about the company's financial status following concern over its capacity to run two of the government’s mega-water projects, worth a total of Bt160 billion.

Channel 5's General Chatchai explained that the 6pm programme's airing of the news report was suddenly cut off by commercials. It returned only after the report ended, prompting criticism on the Internet and social networks. Viewers suspected K-water was backed by some influential persons and the report criticising it might have been cut by following an outsider's intervention.

Chatchai insisted the news editor decided to suspend it on-air, saying there was no intervention by any other individual. He said he learned about this suspension at 8pm that day.

'NO INTERFERENCE'

"I confirm 100 per cent that there was no intervention or order. I talked with the editor for the programme and the editor admitted a mistake of hurriedly publishing the report when they should have checked it first. I instructed the editor to take this as a lesson to prevent future mistakes.

"The Channel 5 news should be accurate and credible," he said,adding that Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha later instructed the station to make sure news presentations were credible.

"It was fortunate that we suspended it in time," he said.

Meanwhile, the Office of the National Water and Flood Management Policy acting chief Supoj Tovichakchaikul yesterday defended K-water, saying it was qualified for the government’s mega-water projects. He said K-water was a state enterprise with the South Korean government holding a 100 per cent stake. The South Korean Embassy certified its qualification.

Supoj said firms eligible to join the bidding had to have 10 years' experience in construction, worth at least Bt30 billion. K-water had handled construction worth 682.8 billion, was ranked at A1 by Moody’s Investors and at A level by Standard and Poor’s. It had Bt650 billion in capital and earned Bt176 billion, he said. Supoj said he was consulting a legal team about what to do next about the TV programme.

This move followed a previous comment by Hyung Cheol Yum from the Federation for Environmental Movements that K-water was under the scrutiny of the South Korean National Audit and Prosecution agency and did not have the experience to operate a mega-project of this complexity.

As a picture of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visiting K-water went viral, leading to criticism K-water had influential help to get the job, Supoj said the bidders had to go through procedures and selection based on ideas and works, not politics.


-- The Nation 2013-06-28

[Siripon]

I saw that photo of Thaksin with K- Water, he's sitting in the middle of a posed photo of approximately 50 employees as if he's the chairman of the company.

And they won the contract. How surprising.

[EvilDrSomkid]

It is all so obvious. Does anybody really believe that this deal 100% clean? I didn't think so.

So, somebody will make a tidy sum out of this. 30% of the contract sum will go to the 'facilitators'.

If the Army channel cuts the report, it could indicate that there would be some nasty tidbits of information that certain generals don't want published.

[arthurboy]

It's very good to see that the has happened so quickly on this one.

It's going to be a very interesting few days in Thai politics.

[GentlemanJim]

I need a coffee then to try reading all this again because at the moment I don't have a clue what is going on with this story. Maybe I am having a dull Friday! Does anyone else not understand the OP?

[sungod]

I saw that photo of Thaksin with K- Water, he's sitting in the middle of a posed photo of approximately 50 employees as if he's the chairman of the company.

And they won the contract. How surprising.

What, this one?

[EvilDrSomkid]

I saw that photo of Thaksin with K- Water, he's sitting in the middle of a posed photo of approximately 50 employees as if he's the chairman of the company.

And they won the contract. How surprising.

What, this one?

Wouldn't it be an amazing coincidence if the Shin clan have shares in this outfit?

[Thai at Heart]

I hope they have planned for the high speed rail link not to pass through any of these construction projects.

Wouldn't that be hilarious. A bunch of Korean engineers meeting a bunch of Chinese engineers in the countryside unplanned.

And don't say it couldn't happen.

"Ni hao", "Anyang"

"Where you go?"

"This way, you go where"

"That way"

Ooooops.....

[allan michaud]

"He said the financial performances for 2002-2012, submitted by K-Water, were valued at Bt680 billion – much higher than the requirement of at least Bt30 billion."

Does anyone understand this statement?

[MaxLee]

I hope they have planned for the high speed rail link not to pass through any of these construction projects.

Wouldn't that be hilarious. A bunch of Korean engineers meeting a bunch of Chinese engineers in the countryside unplanned.

And don't say it couldn't happen.

"Ni hao", "Anyang"

"Where you go?"

"This way, you go where"

"That way"

Ooooops.....

Korean FAKE Water management organization

Edited June 28, 2013 by MaxLee

[SOTIRIOS]

.....the perfect type of business partner for this government....

[Baerboxer]

I saw that photo of Thaksin with K- Water, he's sitting in the middle of a posed photo of approximately 50 employees as if he's the chairman of the company.

And they won the contract. How surprising.

What, this one?

Wouldn't it be an amazing coincidence if the Shin clan have shares in this outfit?

But the shares could be owned by members of the family not directly involved in the government, or cooks, cleaners, gardners, drivers, mia nois etc etc

No conflict of interest.

Khun Dr. Thaksin is not a member of the government, and has said on many occasions that he is not involved or wishes to be in politics. No doubt K-Water invited him to share his valuable business experiences and insights. Perhaps they want to build dams for Dubai.

No conflict of interest.

So there you are, all pure coincidence, just like all the other ones. The world is truly amazing and nowhere more so than Thailand.

[Bagwan]

Just how many Korean politicians including Prime Ministers have been thrown out of office for corruption? I've lost count. This deal with KWR looks very dodgy to me. Is Arthur Daly a member of the board?

[belg]

i bet: they will use this money

to finish and pay off works in s-korea

thailand will get nothing, but the 30% draft will be paid anyway

so evelybody happy