Subs ‘a govt-to-govt deal’

[rooster59]

Subs ‘a govt-to-govt deal’

By WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

THE recent submarine deal with China, and not the weapons it will be equipped with, will be the main focus of scrutiny for the Office of the Auditor-General as it started to look through piles of confidential documents at the Royal Thai Navy headquarters, Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas said.

 

The auditor-general also said an initial investigation by his office found that the submarine purchase deal was genuinely between the governments of Thailand and China. He added that no unauthorised individuals or private businesses were involved in the deal.

 

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, Pisit said that the office’s priority in conducting the probe was to evaluate whether the Yuan-class S26T submarine’s specifications would actually meet the Navy’s expectations as stipulated in its long-term strategy.

 

The submarines would come with four torpedos offered by the Chinese state factory. These, together with other weapons that the submarines will be equipped with, would also be evaluated in terms of worthiness – with their functionality excluded from criteria.

 

“Knowing too much about the security details would only land the office staff in trouble,” the auditor-general said. “Still, we will look at the justification behind the pricing, such as how long the Navy will be able to use the given weapons at this price and how their price tags are proportionate with the whole submarine.”

 

Amid speculation about the Bt13.5-billion Chinese submarine deal, the auditor-general is now one of few hopes for the public to probe this pricey deal, given its confidential status.

 

Activists approached the auditor-general’s office to file petitions seeking a probe. The office agreed to begin the inspection on Thursday, just a day before the Navy penned an agreement with China on the deal.

 

“It’s not too late at all to start tracking the deal,” Pisit insisted “Though the deal is already signed, our findings can lead to changes even to the signed agreement, if necessary.”

 

Many people would like the office to find out if the multi-billion-baht deal is worth the price tag? Pisit said the Navy’s explanations would be taken into account.

 

There is another information to be taken into account – a seven-year-binding status of this procurement. According to a legal expert, Preecha Suwannathat, the procurement might violate the budget bill, which stipulates |that any long-term budget needs to be approved within 60 days after the bill of that fiscal year is passed. Given that the current budget bill came into effect in October 2016, it would be against the law to approve this submarine procurement as late as April, Preecha said.

 

Pisit said it was for the Budget Bureau to explain whether the approval violated any law. On October 25, the Cabinet approved a list of prospective long-binding purchases from various governmental agencies, with the submarine procurement also on the list, he said.

 

On April 18, the Cabinet approved the pricey procurement in confidentiality. In 2015, the Yuan-class S26T first hit the headlines when the Navy began considering the possibility of acquiring a hardware that the Thai military has managed without for six decades.

 

Authorities – from the Navy to the junta-backed government – did provide explanations but never disclosed a single related document. But that has not stopped public scepticism over the use of taxpayer funds for the deal that is binding for seven years.

 

Reacting to the question whether the office was stopped from inspecting the procurement, Pisit stressed “No.” 

 

“But we had to wait for the Cabinet’s approval to start the probe. We have to make sure that the procurement is final,” he said. “If it’s merely an initiative or a proposal and we probe, we could be accused of interfering,” he said.

 

He said the allocation of a budget, arrangement for payment of instalments, drafting procedure on the terms of reference, compliance with relative regulations will all be taken into account by the office to see whether the submarine deal is worth the state budget, he said. 

 

Pisit said the answer to the question on whether it was necessary for the country to have a submarine, would depend on the reasons given, primarily by the Navy. And this is something all sides should pay heed to.” He said he personally thought it was necessary for the country to have submarines when considering the country’s marine long-term strategy.

 

“If we say we have a dog in the house, at least it can help scare off people with evil intentions,” said Pisit.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314456

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-07

[optad]

Quote

“If we say we have a dog in the house, at least it can help scare off people with evil intentions,” said Pisit.

Confucius say

 

"If have dog in house, it shit and pee on carpet, lie on couch and not get ball. No dog in house."

 

Can they muddy the waters further? The budgetary stipulation alone seems to invalidate the procurement.

 

This ain't goin' away/ 

[ratcatcher]

“If we say we have a dog in the house, at least it can help scare off people with evil intentions,” said Pisit."

 

Very good, if you've got a Pitbull in the house. In this case the resident canine is a Chihuahua. Lots of noise, no substance.

 

[colinneil]

It appears the Auditor- general has been told shut up stop rocking the boat.

If this matter is fully investigated we will not get our kickbacks, so give the public some bul...t to keep them quiet.

[ratcatcher]

11 minutes ago, colinneil said:

It appears the Auditor- general has been told shut up stop rocking the boat.

If this matter is fully investigated we will not get our kickbacks, so give the public some bul...t to keep them quiet.

"....rocking the boat."

An appropriate idiom, given the topic, which is receiving mixed reviews overseas.

 

http://www.smh.com.au/world/thailand-buys-530-million-submarine-from-china-a-move-opposed-by-most-thais-20170506-gvzjiq.html

[YetAnother]

"He said he personally thought it was necessary for the country to have submarines "

so the leader of this 'probe' has a bias and publicly expresses it

[darksidedog]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

He added that no unauthorised individuals or private businesses were involved in the deal.

As if he would tell us if there were. It seems then that commissions and sweeteners will be restricted solely to the PM and friends.

[Ricardo]

If it only comes  "with four torpedos offered by the Chinese state factory",  what do the navy do, once they've fired them as part of testing or training ?

 

And if  "the submarine purchase deal was genuinely between the governments of Thailand and China",  why wasn'tt it signed by a proper Thai government official, say a Defence Minister or some such, rather than a serving naval officer ?

[robblok]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

As if he would tell us if there were. It seems then that commissions and sweeteners will be restricted solely to the PM and friends.

If you assume everyone is lying.. without proof.. then what is the point.

 

If this is truly a goverment to goverment deal and we know how the Chinese deal with corruption then its a safe bet not much to no corruption money is paid. 

[mtls2005]

“If we say we have a dog in the house, at least it can help scare off people with evil intentions,” said Pisit.
 

I thought that's what the army is for?

 

Given that the Thai military most often goes up against their own citizens on the streets of Thailand, it's difficult to imagine a sub helping unless it's on wheels.

[YetAnother]

does anyone get the impression this got does not think it reports to the people ?

[yellowboat]

As the junta as achieved very little, so will these submarines.  It is all rather fitting the this junta's legacy.  

[mercman24]

absolutely brilliant. so China has sold this lot 3 empty baked bean cans, bet it went like this #oh, you want torpedos as well,? sorry they are extra, you want ammo, sorry extra again # soon be day ticket rides in one of our subs, and a big parking lot what with 3 subs and an aircraft carrier

[sanukjim]

Ah Yes,A government to government deal with the shipment money profits to many pockets of The Admiralty and high government officials.

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

The auditor-general also said an initial investigation by his office found that the submarine purchase deal was genuinely between the governments of Thailand and China

And what pray tell does the government operate with in these insane purchases. Its taxpayers money. So its between Thai taxpayers and China. So Mr. Auditor General take note where the money comes from not the insane decision on how to waste it. 

[halloween]

5 hours ago, YetAnother said:

"He said he personally thought it was necessary for the country to have submarines "

so the leader of this 'probe' has a bias and publicly expresses it

Perhaps you should read the Op again and try to understand the function of an Auditor-General. His inquiry has nothing to do with the decision whether the country "needs" submarines.

Your accusation of bias is based only on him holding a different opinion to you. 

[oldsailor35]

Back off .  Don't you know that the purchase of this submarine is for the benefit of the people of Thailand. Just ask Mr Prayuth.

[oldsailor35]

5 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

“If we say we have a dog in the house, at least it can help scare off people with evil intentions,” said Pisit.
 

I thought that's what the army is for?

 

Given that the Thai military most often goes up against their own citizens on the streets of Thailand, it's difficult to imagine a sub helping unless it's on wheels.

Be reasonable, Bangkok has been known to flood , you know !

[candide]

In other words, he will not really probe it.....

[Srikcir]

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

it would be against the law to approve this submarine procurement as late as April

Not a problem. Subs have been claimed to be vital to national security so Prayut can merely invoke Article 44 to bypass any laws to acquire the subs.

[Srikcir]

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He added that no unauthorised individuals or private businesses were involved in the deal.

Nope.

Just one secretive nontransparent government to another of the same ilk.

Neither of which is answerable to their taxpayers.

[clockman]

Well seeing as Thailand is a Chinese colony. Keep it in the family!!

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

How can people pilot a sub who cant lay down a concrete driveway without dogs and children treading in it before it sets. Then never to be fixed 29 years so we get to look at the results like dinosaurs footprints forever?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sawadee1947]

I wonder what they will do with the torpedoes? Shooting sharks???

[robblok]

Nope.
Just one secretive nontransparent government to another of the same ilk.
Neither of which is answerable to their taxpayers.

Without a middle man corruption is a lot harder. You know how the Chinese are about corruption.

[jabis]

14 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

I wonder what they will do with the torpedoes? Shooting sharks???

Have a go at the vessels poaching maritime SEZ:s for target practise of course :)

[chainarong]

what a load of old cobblers.......................

[Bluespunk]

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

''Knowing too much about the security details would only land the office staff in trouble,

Someone in trouble anyway.

[jerojero]

Findings can lead to changing the signed deal? Ya Right. I'm sure China will gladly accept arbitrary changes that would benefit Thailand, now that the deal is agreed and signed. The arrogance and or stupidity of the Auditor is astounding.

 

 

 

 

[soalbundy]

Like the rice sales