Thailand: House speaker's hefty travel spending faces probe

[webfact]

Speaker's hefty travel spending faces probe
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE HOUSE committee on anti-corruption is set to probe Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and his deputy Charoen Chankomol over allegations that both overspent their overseas travel budgets.

The investigation comes hot on the heels of claims the Office of the Parliament President and Somsak's close aide, Parliament secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatcharachai, spent budgets unnecessarily and without transparency, like paying Bt15 million for 200 clocks at a price of Bt75,000 each.

The story of over-priced clocks went viral. The government camp quickly shifted into damage-control mode, arguing that the price was not just for the clocks but also the equipment and system to connect to satellites and the Internet, which would ensure that all of the clocks were reporting the correct time even eight hours after a blackout.

Democrat MP Wilas Chanpitak, chief adviser of the committee, said the committee found that Somsak overspent by Bt550,400 from the Bt15.5 million allocated from the fiscal 2010 budget for the House Speaker's overseas jaunts.

Somsak made six official foreign trips - to South Korea from November 5-8 for Bt1.8 million, China with a delegation of 23 people from December 12-18 for Bt2.3 million, China from April 20-28 for Bt3.3 million, South Korea from May 6-10 for Bt4.7 million and Myanmar from May 7-20 for Bt2.2 million, excluding transport costs and domestic plane tickets.

Charoen, who received Bt10 million, spent Bt14.6 million or Bt4.6 million over the budget on three official trips - China and Mongolia with 26 people from October 26-30 for Bt4.9 million, China from December 14-9 for Bt3.9 million and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates from February 15-19 for Bt5.7 million.

A source from the House committee on parliamentary affairs said the spending by 35 House committees as of August 6 had reached Bt283 million out some Bt379 million appropriated from the fiscal 2013 budget.

Each committee has been instructed to divert leftover funds to cover the expenses of Somsak and Charoen, who overspent their budgets.

Wilas said Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chaiarun and opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva had not touched Bt10 million allocated for overseas travel at all.

Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaiboon said that besides the Bt75,000 clocks, Parliament also spent Bt70,000 for each hot and cold water maker imported from South Korea.

He called on Somsak to show leadership by ordering a speedy investigation of the alleged procurement irregularities for overpriced items.


-- The Nation 2013-08-19

[mca]

South Korea from May 6-10 for Bt4.7 million

4 days and over a mill a day? Bloody hell did he pay for an en masse happy ending from Girls Generation?

[MaxLee]

But, but, but,... the biggest travel spender hasn't been EVER... EVER mentioned in this article yet, and we KNOW who that is....

[Pimay1]

South Korea from May 6-10 for Bt4.7 million

4 days and over a mill a day? Bloody hell did he pay for an en masse happy ending from Girls Generation?

Maybe he was buying more water pumps.

[tomross46]

Time will tell.

[dcutman]

Each committee has been instructed to divert leftover funds to cover the expenses of Somsak and Charoen, who overspent their budgets.

How could this possibly be a good idea?

I think it would be a much better idea if these two had to repay these expenses from their own personal bank accounts. A budget is called a budget for a reason. When the money is gone the party is over.

Yeh I know, I will wake up now.

[jaidam]

Somsak certainly has had a rough ride. The fascists in the PAD even went so far as to make an image of him depicted as a monitor lizard wearing a suit during their NO vote campaign before the last election. It is not Somsak's fault that he physically resembles a varanus.

It really is a blessing having these PTP elite bigwigs off abroad on jollies. The less time they are in Thailand, the less time they have to <deleted> up the country. Its another plus for using their dirigible to travel as it extends the travel time to the benefit of Thailand.

[virtualtraveller]

Seems to be about a million baht a day, assuming each had a delegation of 25, the cost per person per day is 40,000 baht, which is basically accommodation and food. the most expensive hotel I could find in Agoda for Seoul was 11,000 baht.

This lot are disgusting, sure 'reward' yourself a bit, but taking the mickey like this is an assault on our intelligence. PT at their best.

[TackyToo]

That would make a perfect slogan for the TAT:

“No matter how many millions you spend elsewhere- you will always return to the Land of smiles!”

[orchidlady]

70,000 baht for a hot/cold water maker? How about a large catering style water heater...and as Parliament must get water bottles under their brand(every ministry/dept I've been in has had these)...buy a larger refrigerator if needed and keep the bottles in there...It's not like the MPs are going to get up and actually be getting their own water and hot water beverages...that would be a first in Thailand, so why is a fancy model needed?

[TomTao]

Bt15 million for 200 clocks at a price of Bt75,000 each.

South Korea from November 5-8 for Bt1.8 million, China with a delegation of 23 people from December 12-18 for Bt2.3 million, China from April 20-28 for Bt3.3 million, South Korea from May 6-10 for Bt4.7 million and Myanmar from May 7-20 for Bt2.2 million, excluding transport costs and domestic plane tickets.

Parliament also spent Bt70,000 for each hot and cold water maker imported from South Korea.

Thats a whole lot of money spent with not much to show for it, except for some very expensive souveniers and some unconvincing explanations.

Was Mr T in any of the places they visited at the time of the visit?

[NongKhaiKid]

What a surprise, another government official milking the system for all he can get.

Explainations may be sought but getting one, let alone a decent one, is very unlikely.

[monkeycountry]

"The story of over-priced clocks went viral. The government camp quickly shifted into damage-control mode, arguing that the price was not just for the clocks but also the equipment and system to connect to satellites and the Internet, which would ensure that all of the clocks were reporting the correct time even eight hours after a blackout."

Are they talking about the internet/satellite stuff that is in literally every computer and cellphone on the planet? Yes, they all update automatically when connected to the internet one way or another, and a cheap phone/computer cost a couple of thousand baht, and I suppose the technology to update the time cost a fraction of that.

I assume a generator can handle the blackout part, but anyway, why is it important that these clocks are reporting the correct time in case of a blackout? Is anybody working at parliament during a blackout? If not, then who is going to watch the clocks? Even if someone is working, the clocks will still be showing the correct time assuming they have backup power. They may lose a few microseconds over 8 hours, but I don't think anyone in parliament needs to know the time that exact?

I think someone should check the connections between the buyer and the seller of these clocks, and ask whoever bought them why exactly they need such precise clocks during blackouts? And 200 of them???

[Soutpeel]

why is it important that these clocks are reporting the correct time in case of a blackout?

You silly billy its so Yingluck knows what time it is in Dubai so she doesnt wake her brother up when calling for advice on running the country...

[Pimay1]

Does anyone know if all 200 clocks are all mounted in the parliament chamber? Wonder who got the contract to install them and the price of the contract.

[dcutman]

Does anyone know if all 200 clocks are all mounted in the parliament chamber? Wonder who got the contract to install them and the price of the contract.

I believe all 200 are mounted in parliament. It seems there is a need to know what the exact time (SAT link) is in every major city in the world. Note what time it is in Sydney on this clock.

[Bkungbank]

It's not their money who cares how they spend, it's our taxes money.

We pay every VAT 7% from electrcity biils, 7 eleven, Big C, Tesco , Mc Donald's , KFC, beers, cigarette etc

Edited August 19, 2013 by Bkungbank

[Pimay1]

Does anyone know if all 200 clocks are all mounted in the parliament chamber? Wonder who got the contract to install them and the price of the contract.

I believe all 200 are mounted in parliament. It seems there is a need to know what the exact time (SAT link) is in every major city in the world. Note what time it is in Sydney on this clock.

They appear to be approximately one meter wide. Spaced one meter apart it would take 400 meters for all 200 clocks. I wonder if the Parliament chamber this large?

[Robby nz]

What's a few million here and there when they are losing billions a year on rice.

Oh yes rice, these things are worth every satang to the Government if the keep rice out of the headlines.

[patjem]

South Korea from May 6-10 for Bt4.7 million

4 days and over a mill a day? Bloody hell did he pay for an en masse happy ending from Girls Generation?

Well, the expenses were "excluding transport costs and domestic plane tickets", so, that leaves quite a sum to get through, after paying for a top suite & banquet for each day!

[chainarong]

One would hope that all the PTP administration will be involved in a probe/investigation, the Speaker of the house will not be the only participant in the spending stakes, perhaps DSI could just pull himself away from the imported luxury car parts fiasco to do a bit of Sherlock Homes stuff , then again he is probably too busy with the Democrats investigations , that these small matters will fall through the cracks.

[MaiChai]

Didn't the MPs get free iPhone and iPads? These are connected to the internet and have their time synchronized from satellites and atomic time clocks. You can even get apps for free that tell you the time in different countries. Thus why are the expensive parliament clocks required? you could also argue that every MP has a wrist watch?

[OzMick]

Why is it necessary for the House Speaker and his deputies to represent the country on overseas trips? As the annual budget for this exceeds B35 million, what are the benefits?

[dcutman]

Why is it necessary for the House Speaker and his deputies to represent the country on overseas trips? As the annual budget for this exceeds B35 million, what are the benefits?

I am sure all had a wonderful time at taxpayer expense. But these aren't the kind benefits you are talking about, is it?

[CIHUAHUA]

Simply it is spend- it or lose- it economics.

[kimamey]

One would hope that all the PTP administration will be involved in a probe/investigation, the Speaker of the house will not be the only participant in the spending stakes, perhaps DSI could just pull himself away from the imported luxury car parts fiasco to do a bit of Sherlock Homes stuff , then again he is probably too busy with the Democrats investigations , that these small matters will fall through the cracks.

perhaps DSI could just pull himself away from the imported luxury car parts fiasco to do a bit of Sherlock Homes stuff

I haven't heard anything about that recently so I guess he's already swept that under the carpet. Was he doing the monk business after that to cover it. That's gone quiet now as well so he may be available to lend his expertise.

[robertson468]

I am looking forward to hearing the explanation for the expenditure.................not sure how high it will register on the cringe factor scale?

[GentlemanJim]

The clocks thing was all over other news sources. Somebody tracked them down, they are normally sold for a handsome profit at 16000 baht each. Not a bad mark-up really from 16K to 75K. Should there be an investigation? Absabloodylutely !

[kimamey]

Why is it necessary for the House Speaker and his deputies to represent the country on overseas trips? As the annual budget for this exceeds B35 million, what are the benefits?

I thought the PM was doing a pretty good job of that.

I'm sure he'll be able to explain this all very easily. It's not as if he hasn't done this before.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589049-somsaks-trip-to-britain-was-not-appropriate/

At least he's now worked out how to avoid having money left over at the end of the financial year.

Edited August 19, 2013 by kimamey

[A Member]

The clocks thing was all over other news sources. Somebody tracked them down, they are normally sold for a handsome profit at 16000 baht each. Not a bad mark-up really from 16K to 75K. Should there be an investigation? Absabloodylutely !

The Hose corruption committee will probe and that's about as far as it goes. Irrespective of party politics Thai politicians do not go for each other when it comes to corruption, for obvious reasons they can't afford to.