Investigation ordered into the use of 1.8 million baht to stage a meeting

[webfact]

Investigation ordered into the use of 1.8 million baht to stage a meeting



BANGKOK: -- Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanawarangkoon has ordered an investigation into the use of 1.8 million baht to stage a meeting of senior officials on February 5 which was chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha.

Tourism and sports permanent secretary Pongpanu Sawetroon was tasked to form a panel to find out whether the use of the fund to stage the meeting was worth the spending or not and whether the median price set for the hiring of the organizer to stage the event was done in a transparent fashion or not.

Critics have accused that the use of the fund to hire a private organizer to stage the event was a waste as officials of the ministry could have held the event themselves.

Mrs Kobkarn said that she was open to criticisms and to find out the truth to make sure that state budget was used wisely and for the utmost benefit of the people.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149875

-- Thai PBS 2016-02-08

[Valentine]

From the woman who used the facilities of the Dusit Thani for some meeting & announcement when she simply could have used a conference room at the ministry.

[Ulic]

You need a vehicle to spread the sugar around.

[Prbkk]

From the woman who used the facilities of the Dusit Thani for some meeting & announcement when she simply could have used a conference room at the ministry.

Yes but everyone knows the 'connectedness' of the Dusit Thani and associated entities.

[biggles45]

So what good connections did the "organiser" have ?

[Srikcir]

use of 1.8 million baht to stage a meeting of senior officials on February 5 which was chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha.

Doesn't this investigation essentially target the one who approved and funded the meeting - Prayut?

Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the NACC to conduct the investigation since it may involve public officials than a Prayut cabinet minister.

[NongKhaiKid]

She announced she ordered an investigation but failed to say it's already concluded with no impropriety or wrongdoing found.

[greenchair]

Another 1.8 million to fund a committee meeting to investigate the 1st committee meeting, which will of course find everything in order. ☺

[Pimay1]

Another one for file thirteen. That file must be a trillion terabytes by now.

[jaywalker]

Seems like everything they do is 'staged', starting with when they staged a coup.

[iReason]

Do as I say. Not as I do.

“If you can’t afford seafood today, just eat something else first. If it’s too expensive for you, then just don’t eat it. Let rich people eat it. I can’t make everyone equal. I just can’t do that, you know?

If you really want some, then work hard and make money. The government will do our part.”

(Royal Thai Government House, 3 July, 2015)

[phoenixdoglover]

Ok, a little math.

Let's say "Senior Officials" means 100 attendees in a large-ish hotel meeting room.

At 1.8 million baht...click click click...that's only $500 per person.

Hehehe.

[Lupatria]

Another source (foreign) said the meeting lasted 4 hours which equals 12.595 US$ per hour. It also said the most costly expenditures were flower arrangements. One may wonder how this flower power meetings "budget was used wisely and for the utmost benefit of the people..."

...and you thought karaoke sessions are expensive?

[halloween]

Do as I say. Not as I do.

“If you can’t afford seafood today, just eat something else first. If it’s too expensive for you, then just don’t eat it. Let rich people eat it. I can’t make everyone equal. I just can’t do that, you know?

If you really want some, then work hard and make money. The government will do our part.”

(Royal Thai Government House, 3 July, 2015)

It just doesn't compare to "I will make everybody rich in 6 months!" does it?

[jaywalker]

Ok, a little math.

Let's say "Senior Officials" means 100 attendees in a large-ish hotel meeting room.

At 1.8 million baht...click click click...that's only $500 per person.

Hehehe.

$500 USD. The magic number.

I brought a newbie friend in from Sandland to BKK once.

THB was 40 - 1 USD then.

I grabbed 20,000 THB ($500) and we started off at noon (we had landed at Don Mueang at 10:00 AM)....Told him his money was no good, it was my treat.

It took the two of us up to about 0200 hrs, between Nana, Cowboy, The Beer Garden, a couple Viagra pills and some damned bar on Soi 11, doing shots of Jack Daniels to spend all but about 1800 baht.

I had 1800 baht in my pocket the next day.... Enough for one soapy .

Politicians just don't know how to spend money wisely.

[harrry]

Ok, a little math.

Let's say "Senior Officials" means 100 attendees in a large-ish hotel meeting room.

At 1.8 million baht...click click click...that's only $500 per person.

Hehehe.

A large computer company used to (and probably still does) hold regular events in Australia to showcasse their producs and provide a little training.

Say 500 people at a hotel with morning coffee and croisants, a finger lunch and afternoon coffee....

I bet it cost more than 1.8 million.....

The Ed department does the same for its seminars...as do most Government Departments in Australia though the can and I believe should hold them in house.

On the face of it nothing that unreasonable here.

[colinneil]

Every thing that is done, government wise, is lets party.

We are not paying so go for it.

Wife is going on a jolly to Chantaburi from Banphai???

What the hell they could do it here. Oh no 60-70 people travelling hundreds of kilometers for a bloody meeting !! Crazy !!

Who is picking up the bill????Taxpayers thats who.

[Basil B]

Another useless quango...

Tourism and Sport... do they play bridge???

[smutcakes]

Sufficiency economy at its finest.

[englishoak]

Im sure they announced last week that no misuse of funding was found in next weeks investigation.