Activist asks anti-graft body to probe NLA over jobs for relatives

[webfact]

Activist asks anti-graft body to probe NLA over jobs for relatives

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Association of Organisations for the Protection of Thailand's Constitution, said Tuesday he will file a petition to ask the national anti-graft agency to investigate allegations of cronyism among National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members who hired relatives to help with their official duties.

Srisuwan said that by hiring spouses, children or relatives as assistants, the NLA members may be violating the anti-corruption law as well as PM's Office regulations on ethics and code of conduct for political office holders.

"The National Council for Peace and Order has made fighting corruption its agenda, yet one of its arms may be committing wrongdoings, so we need to file a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission [NACC] to investigate the practice and set standards," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Activist-asks-anti-graft-body-to-probe-NLA-over-jo-30255236.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-03

[clockman]

He will not like that.

[Fat Haggis]

He doesn't have to like it, he just has to practice what he preaches about transparency and instruct all NLA personnel who broke his rules to fire the family members and employ other that have the qualifications to hold the post.

He stated very early on that if members of his NCPO/NLA were not up to the job they'd possibly be removed so let's see if he means what he says and acts decisively and accordingly ?

[Costas2008]

And they will be right to do so.

Nepotism and giving jobs to relatives is not acceptable today.

Not in the corporations or public offices.

I hope they reconsider their actions and give the job to people that they deserve it.

It is a form of corruption and if they want people to believe that they are trying to eradicate corruption in Thailand they should get rid of them.

[Fat Haggis]

OMG I'm agreeing with Costas a lot today!! ?

Well said though Costas

[Confuscious]

Posted 2015-02-27 20:05:42

NLA chief defends the appointment of family members

BANGKOK: -- Pornpetch Vichitcholachai, president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said Friday that it was understandable that NLA members would want to appoint their spouses or relatives as aides or personal experts as these were the people they could trust.

More than 50 NLA members have relatives working as salaried aides or experts.

Pornpetch explained that there was no restriction on appointing family members as aides, provided the person did not have a criminal record.

Asked if paying them a salary from taxpayers' money was appropriate, Pornpetch said the practice predates the assembly and was in line with regulations.

Source: http://www.nationmul...r-30255034.html

-- The Nation 2014-02-27

And this.............

Posted Today, 05:20

Call for NACC to look into nepotism at the NLA
THE NATION

Activist claims hiring relatives to work as assistants violates ethics, graft law

BANGKOK: -- ACTIVIST Srisuwan Janya will today call on the anti-corruption agency to investigate allegations of cronyism among National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members who have hired their relatives to help with their official duties.

Srisuwan, secretary-general of the Association of Organisations for the Protection of Thailand's Constitution, said yesterday that this was a serious matter as it violated the spirit of the amended version of the 2011 anti-corruption law. He argued that this law along with the Prime Minister's Office regulations on the ethics of political officials would set a clear benchmark for this issue.

He said he would submit a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in relation to the controversy, which has sparked criticism from media and non-governmental organisations over the NLA's transparency.

"NLA members can be considered political officials," Srisuwan said, adding that it was unethical of them to get their relatives involved in their official duties.

"We have always criticised such practices," he said, adding that the term "assembly of husbands and wives" was invented as a result of that.

"At a time like this, the reform body should not incorporate the practices and habits of politicians in the past," he reasoned.

The May 22 coup was staged to do away with practices like this and pave the way for reform and changes, but if the very people working on reform get their relatives involved, then their work will make no difference, he suggested.

The hiring of relatives or spouses by NLA members, including the secretary-general and deputy secretary-general of the Senate Secretariat, goes against the law and code of ethics for political officials.

Hence, he said, the Association of Organisations for the Protection of Thailand's Constitution has decided to take this matter to the NACC so it can punish those indulging in such cronyism.

When the matter first surfaced last week, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha reacted by saying there was no clause prohibiting relatives of politicians from playing a role in public affairs. However, he said it was crucial to refer to the regulations and he did not want to speak about this issue, other than that it should not be associated with the previous problem of "husband-and-wife assemblies".

Prayut is said to have ordered those responsible to be careful about the matter and verify the possibility of nominating relatives.

When asked about the possibility of establishing a commission to scrutinise relatives who have been working as assistants to NLA members, Prayut said he had told NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai to look into the matter. If any wrongdoing is discovered, then an investigation will be launched, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmul...A-30255207.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-03

[lungmi]

In Germany we have a lot of problems with this system. High ranking politicians and her wives are in big trouble.

[phil2407]

Guess qualifications and experience count for nothing then - "ah my cousin has no qualifications or experience but I'll pay him 100k a month because he's family and all the other applicants that are qualified and have experience just send them letter ( if you type cousin ) saying they were not successful - oh you can't type - ok just line them"

[Pigdog474]

Guess qualifications and experience count for nothing then - "ah my cousin has no qualifications or experience but I'll pay him

100k a month because he's family and all the other applicants that are qualified and have experience just send them letter ( if you type cousin ) saying they were not successful - oh you can't type - ok just line them"

Experience is a necessity, Cousin/son much experience, had jet boat rental business before joining police dept. Come from poor

family, quick learner, much desire to succeed. Now drive new Mercedes and have big house after only 1 year. Will fit in well with other family members.

[Strangebrew]

Well a day late and 99 satang short a baht.

[lungmi]

The system of "nepotism" is well known.

In busisness companies this system is well accepted. No big problems

In administration offices it's different.

The solution is easy. If qualified your member of family can make a contract with another office working with the same aim.

(corruption is not excluded but can be verified).

If you need that your member of family works together with you for the benefit of your job: no money, no executive legal power.