A plan to supply Thailand’s senators and members of parliament with tablet computers and smartphones has come under fire from the public.
The devices supplied to the politicians are suspected to be Apple iPhones and iPads, as Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol said that they would buy the “best” equipment, The Nation reported.
Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij, a member of the senate panel on preventing corruption and promoting good governance, revealed the plan on Feb. 29. Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol confirmed the plan yesterday March 6, saying that about 700 pieces of equipment would be bought for roughly THB50 million baht.
That works out to about THB71,000 per device. Right.
Last time we checked iPads start at around THB22,0000 and iPhones from THB20,900.
Something isn’t right here. And people on Twitter in Thailand concur.
@paenewfolder said: “I think it is more or less surely about commission. Are (the gadgets) necessary for them? No. But they will take them if they are given. But what they are going to use the gadget for?”
@Bodee said: “It is important who started this, and what the prime minister thinks about it. The public should now.”
@kidousenshi posted: “What kind of an iPhone costs over Bt70,000? NACC should investigate.”
Still, Democrat MP Boonyod Suktinthai didn’t see any problems with the plan.
“It is human nature. When something is given for free, we accept without complaining. If any MP doesn’t use it, (he or she) can let their secretary or assistant use it. MPs won’t complain about getting free items. They will complain only if they don’t get it or they don’t get it equally to what other MPs get,” he said.
This story is ongoing.
