Thai Democrat MP queries 'unnecessary' Parliament spending

[webfact]

MP queries 'unnecessary' Parliament spending
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Democrat MP has threatened to file a petition against the House Secretariat alleging corruption in what he described as "splurging of funds", particularly on construction and renovation projects.

Watchara Pechthong, a member of the special House panel vetting the 2014 budget bill, has questioned the Secretariat and the Office of the Parliament President over their "unnecessary" and non-transparent spending on projects.

Watchara said he had asked concerned officials for documents on expenditure incurred but had so far not received a response.

He cited numerous instances, including the Bt300,000 bill for flowers used in a reception for Nguyen Phu Trong, secretary-general of Vietnam's Communist Party; Bt10 million on the reception for South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kang Chang-hee; Bt100,000 per day for meals for parliamentarians during House sessions; Bt36 million to Bt40 million for the renovation of meeting rooms for the House committee vetting the budget bill; Bt24 million to build a meeting room in the Parliament building and Bt15 million to renovate the statue of King Rama VII in front of Parliament.

"There has not been a single bidding notice for any of these projects. If the secretariat cannot clarify this spending, I will file a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission,'' he said.

Pheu Thai MP Anurak Boonson also vowed to take legal action against Parliament officials unless the budgeting was clarified.

Parliament secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatchrachai defended the spending by saying that the Bt7 billion spent on construction and renovation projects were allocated from the fiscal budget of 2012. He said some of the buildings and rooms in Parliament had not been repaired for eight years.

He also said the Bt36 million was spent not only on renovation, but also to install high-tech equipment.

However, Watchara asked why such expensive renovations were needed, as the new Parliament building was set to be completed.

In addition, the Democrat said he wanted to scrap the Bt40-million plan to renovate Suwichag's office as it was unnecessary.

Other members of the panel have also criticised the Bt7 billion-plan to establish provincial branches of Parliament, saying it as too costly.

Parliament this year has requested Bt8.9 billion in fund allocation for the 2014 fiscal budget.


-- The Nation 2013-07-26

[lujanit]

Is Parliament even necessary? I was under the impression that Thailand was being run by a dictator, albeit absent for now

[NongKhaiKid]

Is overseas trips on his list ?

[whybother]

Parliament secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatchrachai defended the spending by saying that the Bt7 billion spent on construction and renovation projects were allocated from the fiscal budget of 2012.

So because the money was budgeted for, they don't need to show how it's spent?

[waza]

"He also said the Bt36 million was spent not only on renovation, but also to install high-tech equipment."

We must have Skype in every room.

[rametindallas]

Parliament secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatchrachai office costs Bt40-million ($1,310,000) to renovate. "Opulence, We has it!"

Seriously, he could not get away with that expenditure in spend-crazy Washington D.C.

[Mampara]

No! No!

its not the Bt300,000 bill for flowers used in a reception, or the Bt10 million on the reception for South Korea, or the Bt100,000 per day for meals for parliamentarians, nor the Bt36 million for the renovation of meeting rooms, nor the Bt24 million to build a meeting room, that's just the tip of the iceberg, its the personal spending using the peoples tax money that we should worry about.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Parliament secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatchrachai defended the spending by saying that the Bt7 billion spent on construction and renovation projects were allocated from the fiscal budget of 2012.

So because the money was budgeted for, they don't need to show how it's spent?

Yup.

And: "Do you know who I am!!!"

[NongKhaiKid]

"He also said the Bt36 million was spent not only on renovation, but also to install high-tech equipment."

We must have Skype in every room.

" PM, big brother has just logged into Skype, look busy ! "

[worgeordie]

i cannot see the appropriation in there for bigger and better troughs,

must have slipped through with the rest of the pork barrel stuff.

regards Worgeordie

[OzMick]

Creative accounting is a PTP specialty, and they are quick to adopt new ideas. I expect next year to see a payment to Somchai Cement Works for a "jade" Buddha statue.

[pisico]

Transparency? In Thailand? Only the spirits.

[Baerboxer]

No! No!

its not the Bt300,000 bill for flowers used in a reception, or the Bt10 million on the reception for South Korea, or the Bt100,000 per day for meals for parliamentarians, nor the Bt36 million for the renovation of meeting rooms, nor the Bt24 million to build a meeting room, that's just the tip of the iceberg, its the personal spending using the peoples tax money that we should worry about.

I'm sure your're right about the tip of the iceberg. But as usual, these questions will simply be ignored or dismissed. It's really mind boggling to try to imagine the real scale of what's going on. Yet, nothing will be done now or after to effectively investigate those repsonsible.

[Neilly]

MP queries 'unnecessary' Parliament spending

The Nation

So Splurging is the new word for 'lost funds' then?...okay chaps, carry on as you were