BMA management under fire over its alleged irregularities
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation

Who paid for deputy governor's first-class air travel, retirement parties in japan? asks ex-mp vilas

BANGKOK: -- Former member of parliament Vilas Chanpitaksa is planning to file complaints against some bigwigs of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) over alleged irregularities.

"I will ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate such irregularities," Vilas said yesterday during a press conference at the Democrat Party headquarters.

He said a deputy Bangkok governor had flown first class to foreign countries such as France and Germany every month.

"The deputy governor has paid for the tickets with cash. "Did that money come from any firm seeking favour in BMA procurement projects?" Vilas asked.

Vilas said the BMA had issued a circular to district offices in Bangkok, telling them to request a budget for the procurement of fast-suction vehicles, with each eight-cubic-metre vehicle costing Bt24 million. Every district office already has at least one fast-suction vehicle, he said.

"The procurement project was suspended only after I exposed the alleged irregularities," Vilas said.

Without identifying the deputy Bangkok governor, Vilas said members of the deputy governor's team recently held retirement parties in Japan using free air tickets they got through the promotion of a firm.

"During the promotion, a purchase of Bt50,000 was rewarded with a roundtrip ticket between Bangkok and Japan. Purchases of Bt5 million [in total] were finally made to claim 100 free tickets. Is it honest procurement?" he asked.

'Suspicions over upcoming US trip'

Vilas questioned where seven top BMA executives had got the money for what he said was an upcoming trip to the United States.

He also expressed doubts about the project to develop a public park in Bangkok's Thon Buri district.

The former Bangkok MP claimed it took up to a seven-digit sum for BMA officials to gain favour in the transfers of district office directors.

Vilas claimed the BMA used to have Bt30 billion in savings but the amount was now only Bt2 billion.

He said after noticing the alleged irregularities in BMA's management, he wanted the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate budget use by other local administrative bodies.

Vilas hinted that the recent order by the National Council for Peace and Order to remove Charae Panpruang as House of Representatives secretary-general was because of his lack of cooperation in the ongoing investigation against his predecessor Suvijak Nakwatcharachai over budget irregularities.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-management-under-fire-over-its-alleged-irregul-30271152.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-19

It's my understand certain members of the BMA said the current pm misunderstood how business works and the Thai media picked up the passing comment made last month. This seems plausible since corruption is the norm here and nepotism, well who's brother got promoted...

This has got to be the tiny tip of a very large iceberg.

Speaking of reforms...any discussion on these various committees of how to reorganize government procurements so kickbacks and gifts are exposed more readily?

Up to you Mr. Fix it all. Let's now see you walk the walk, seeing how you have talked the talk repeatedly of how you and your government will deal with corruption. Maybe I misunderstood, do you only deal with those that cannot turn around and bite you on the backside?

How can you call procedures accepted as the norm irregularities???

What is a "fast suction vehicle"?

Google images turns up phone holders.

Edited October 19, 201510 yr by jaywalker

So they have these now to clean the roads from sand?

What is a "fast suction vehicle"?

Google images turns up phone holders.

they were most likely referring to road sweepers that cleans and suctions up dust/trash on the streets.

What is a "fast suction vehicle"?

Google images turns up phone holders.

they were most likely referring to road sweepers that cleans and suctions up dust/trash on the streets.

Well clean roads can save a lot of water, my wife has to wash her car if there's some minor mud on it.

I hate the sand in my eyes when driving motobike and have to shower when i come home after a ride.

Also the sand clogs up drains which causes floodings.

But they better fine all trucks who don't cover their load of sand/clay. It's very dangerous when big lumps are dropping while driving 80 km/hr.

These trucks cost around 200.000 euro a piece i would guess. That is for a Volvo or similar brand.

What is a "fast suction vehicle"?

Google images turns up phone holders.

they were most likely referring to road sweepers that cleans and suctions up dust/trash on the streets.

Sounds like a road sweeper. 24mn..Bloody hell. Must such super well

Inflated price to allow for backhanders I think.