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Thai Parliament Complex Controversy: Costly Repairs and Corruption Allegations Shake Sappaya-Saphasathan

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In recent years, Thailand has been riding a wave of modernization, but it seems that not all glitz and glamour age well. Five years into its grand unveiling, the Thai Parliament Complex, stunning as it may look, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Officially known as Sappaya-Saphasathan, this architectural marvel has amassed an eye-watering price tag of 22.987 billion baht, and believe it or not, the spending spree isn’t over. Critics are crying foul as taxpayers are once again reaching for their wallets, funding nearly 2 billion baht in repair budgets.

The original promise for this legislative palace was a budget-friendly 12 billion baht with a rapid completion timeline of 900 days. However, the project took a leisurely stroll across a decade, laden with delays, defects, and a parade of controversies. Since its 2020 inauguration, the site has experienced at least five significant water leakages, including a notorious instance that shut down three elevators, each valued at 2 million baht. Wilas Janpitak, a former Member of Parliament and self-dubbed “The Sappayasapasathan Watchdog,” remains vigilant over these proceedings.

“What we see here is a relentless cycle of neglect, where unresolved issues from the original construction are being spotted, yet instead of addressing them, new budgets are being funneled to replace shoddy components wholesale,” Wilas shared with Khao Khon Kon Khao. This policy of ‘out with the old, in with the new’ may have lucrative implications for some, but certainly not for the Thai people.

Amidst Wilas’s commentary, there have surfaced a whopping 56 formal grievances lodged with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Allegations span from fake wood embellishments, subpar materials, to considerable construction deviations. A glaring misstep? The staggering 106-million-baht allotment for a subterranean parking garage within an area notorious for over 100 leakage points. Wilas suspects this ‘innovative’ new venture is a diversion to dodge accountability for fixing the already existing mishaps.

Further raising eyebrows is the 123-million-baht earmark for pavilion renovations. Wilas pulled the curtain back on the lackluster use of cheaper tiles and significant exclusions of structural reinforcements. Despite repairs commencing since January, efforts have largely resorted to superficial palette swaps rather than addressing the core infrastructural dismay.

Perhaps what sticks out most in this saga is a controversial 150-million-baht proposal to transform the infamous Emerald Pool into a library and co-working space — talk about a dramatic reinvention! Wilas, whose expertise also dwells in pharmacology, vehemently disputes the notion that the pool attracts mosquitoes. “Aedes mosquitoes don’t thrive in filthy water. That rationale is scientifically far-fetched,” he argued. There’s a more sinister undertone though; filling in this pool could conveniently obliterate a paper trail that reveals the deception of counterfeit wood utilized elsewhere.

With billions in baht already on the clearance docket and more on hold, the “Palace of Parliament” seems less a tableau of public governance and more a chessboard of profit. Are these architectural ambitions about serving the Thai populace, or is there an intricate play of profit-and-loss hidden behind these pearly gates? As the debate rages on, it appears the opulent exterior masks a foundation built on shaky grounds, where public welfare tangos with private pursuits.

27 Comments

  1. Lek T. May 7, 2025

    Okay, but is anyone surprised anymore? This is politics as usual in Thailand. Just another day of siphoning public money under the guise of ‘essential’ repairs.

    • David May 7, 2025

      Sadly, I’m not surprised either. Corruption is a disease that affects many governments worldwide.

      • grower134 May 7, 2025

        True. But citizens need to push for transparency and accountability. Only then will things change.

    • Annie L. May 7, 2025

      True, but it’s infuriating how they’re so bold about it. At what point do we say enough is enough?

      • Lek T. May 7, 2025

        That’s the problem. Until there are real consequences for these politicians, nothing changes.

  2. Sarunya W. May 7, 2025

    I think the bigger issue is the lack of planning and project management. The government isn’t entirely to blame if the chosen contractors are incompetent.

    • J. Chan May 7, 2025

      True, contractors should be held accountable as well. But then again, who picks these contractors? It’s all interconnected.

      • Sarunya W. May 7, 2025

        Agreed, the root is in the selection process. They should vet these contractors more thoroughly.

    • Henry B. May 7, 2025

      It’s all about kickbacks and nepotism. Connections matter more than competence, unfortunately.

      • Tarasa May 7, 2025

        While you might be right, shouldn’t people demand higher standards? If nothing else, maybe pressure from the public could help.

  3. Joe May 7, 2025

    I’m curious, are they prioritizing aesthetics over functionality? I mean, why a ‘pearl-white’ parliament if it’s crumbling at the seams?

    • Sakura87 May 7, 2025

      Aesthetic appeal definitely shouldn’t outweigh practicality and longevity. But that’s governance for you.

    • Kavin R. May 7, 2025

      Let’s be real, flashy buildings are easier to sell to the public than solid, boring ones. That’s the world we live in.

  4. LingXu May 7, 2025

    The transformation of the pool into a library seems like a waste of time & money. What’s next? A spa to raise funds?!

    • Jenny A. May 7, 2025

      Haha, a spa parliament sounds about as useful as some of the ideas already proposed! But kidding aside, the library idea seems impractical if not fully studied.

  5. Fah_sai May 7, 2025

    How many times do we have to rebuild the Titanic before some common sense prevails? Fix what’s broken, don’t tear it down.

  6. Paul May 7, 2025

    Absolutely disgraceful! The money could have been used for better healthcare or education, not for fixing overpriced vanity projects!

    • Sita May 7, 2025

      Exactly! The discrepancy in public sector spending priorities is frustrating. Our children are being taught in classrooms that are falling apart!

  7. Emily J. May 7, 2025

    On the matter of the ‘fake wood’ scandal, isn’t it appalling how nobody is held accountable? It’s blatant fraud!

    • Ben May 7, 2025

      Absolutely. Fake materials in a government-funded project? Heads should roll for this.

  8. S.S. May 7, 2025

    Sure it costs a lot, but at least the parliament is beautiful. Every country needs pride in its architecture to inspire its people.

    • Rona May 7, 2025

      That’s true, but functionality and honesty should go hand-in-hand with beauty. A boondoggle inspires little!

  9. Prang May 7, 2025

    Honestly, the whole funding process needs an independent audit. How about putting that on the legislative agenda?

  10. Ahmed May 7, 2025

    Why isn’t there more media coverage on Wilas Janpitak’s findings? Seems like a major scoop that’s tucked away?

  11. Johnny D. May 7, 2025

    The real issue is oversight. Without it, it’s an endless pit of spending. Who’s minding the till?

    • Mandy May 7, 2025

      The oversight is supposed to be done by regulatory bodies, but they’re often just as susceptible to corruption.

    • Johnny D. May 7, 2025

      Sad, but I have hopes that sweeping reforms might be on the way.

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