Thai officials on the 'graveyard' shift

[webfact]

Officials on the 'graveyard' shift
Piyaporn Wongruang
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It was not yet 4.30pm, the time when government offices close, but the old four-storey Civil Servants Office Building was already silent, especially the second and third floors.

The car park in front of the building was almost empty, with only a few vans left. A "phu yai" (big boss) was still working in the corner of a room on the third floor. His driver yawned. All the other big bosses had left, he said.

Since the coup last year, the civil service-backed Internet Law Reform Dialogue or iLaw has complied a list of senior government officials transferred to other offices. Some of them have been promoted, while others have been transferred "to help" the Prime Minister's Office and ended up in the Civil Servants Office Building opposite Government House as there is no room at the latter.

iLaw has noted that so far at least 93 senior officials have been transferred, mainly to the Prime Minister's Office.

The minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, ML Panadda Diskul, told The Nation that some senior officials had been transferred there for allegedly being negligent in their duty. In the near future, the office will receive more senior officials following the government's bid to suppress corruption.

Panadda said the officials had been tasked with helping the Office of the PM's Secretariat in an advisory role. He did not reveal the number of transferred officials at the office, only saying "top officials" with permanent secretary posts or an equal rank work there.

But by noting the names in the rooms at the Civil Servants Office Building, The Nation found that at least eight of them work on the second and third floors.

They include former Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith, former ambassador Pasan Teparak, Pol General Thawee Sodsong and former Transport Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Siriwattanachoke. Several rooms are being renovated.

Some of the officials contacted by The Nation, including Tarit, refused to talk about their work, as did the phu yai who was still working when The Nation visited the office. Some of them are preparing for retirement quietly.

The phu yai's driver said: "He comes to work every day and stays until the office is closed, but I'm not sure how much work he does."

Chote Trachu, a former permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said he was transferred several months ago and was working on an assignment, which mainly entailed being an adviser to a policy strategy subcommittee. He said he tried to deliver his expertise and hoped it was still useful to the country.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Officials-on-the-graveyard-shift-30263319.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-29

[FireMedic]

The phu yai's driver said: "He comes to work every day and stays until the office is closed, but I'm not sure how much work he does.

I guess someone will be looking for a new job.

[Happy Grumpy]

Several rooms are being renovated.

In their mansions?

[NongKhaiKid]

" Some senior officers had been transferred there for allegedly being negligent in their duty. In the near future the office will receive more senior officials following the government's bid to suppress corruption. "

That's the way to do it, sorry Punch, the line of least resistance and what of finding the evidence to support a criminal charge and a court appearance ?

Oh no that's a rocky road to go down and sets an dangerous precedent.

Edited June 29, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[ChrisY1]

They all have drivers and smart vehicles.....all provided compliments from the taxpayer.

Scams and rorts all looked upon as usual.

[Manbing]

Why don't the government change the employment regulations in the civil service to sack anyone who has been found guilty of dereliction of duty.

Its not difficult?

They people will presumably expect a pension after their years of dedicated service too.

[SOTIRIOS]

...a quasi-governmental organization....

...people drive up to the front...double park...swipe their id cards.....

,,,then they are off...back God knows when......

...nobody gives a hoot to cross-reference their parking id to see when they actually go in to work...

...and if they do not come by car...nobody will be the wiser...

..especially when they know whether the boss will be there or not.......

...and this organization has been running a deficit for years....

...collusion...complicity......corruption.....

...whatcha' gonna do about it......

[Somtamnication]

One heck of a promotion transfer if you can keep the driver!

[h90]

The phu yai's driver said: "He comes to work every day and stays until the office is closed, but I'm not sure how much work he does.

I guess someone will be looking for a new job.

well how many phu yai's come EVERY day to work for the full working day?

I wouldn't be surprised if he is the only one all over Thailand.....

[Tonawatchee]

PM's office, a depository for negligent employees? I believe this building could qualify as a 'hub".

[Artisi]

...a quasi-governmental organization....

...people drive up to the front...double park...swipe their id cards.....

,,,then they are off...back God knows when......

...nobody gives a hoot to cross-reference their parking id to see when they actually go in to work...

...and if they do not come by car...nobody will be the wiser...

..especially when they know whether the boss will be there or not.......

...and this organization has been running a deficit for years....

...collusion...complicity......corruption.....

...whatcha' gonna do about it......

NOTHING

[zaphod reborn]

These are civil service workers. Either they, or workers under them, are being investigated for corruption. Most of them are probably guilty, because that's what government workers do in Thailand. Until their crimes are adjudicated, they continue to receive all the benefits of their employment. So, they transfer these officials to a place where they can't do anymore harm.

Edited June 29, 2015 by zaphod reborn

[casualbiker]

The phu yai's driver said: "He comes to work every day and stays until the office is closed, but I'm not sure how much work he does.

I guess someone will be looking for a new job.

well how many phu yai's come EVERY day to work for the full working day?

I wouldn't be surprised if he is the only one all over Thailand.....

He's probably got a wife with big hair at home and thinks it's safer to stay in the office.

[little mary sunshine]

Look out for that drone overhead...about to save

Millions and millions of Baht each month with the

Push of a button

[Benmart]

I'm glad I am not Thai and not paying for, what seems to be, a ship without a rudder or a Captain.