Funds for city councillors' overseas trips cancelled
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The Bangkok City Assembly yesterday cancelled some Bt400 million in funds allocated for overseas trips by its councillors, citing austerity.
Speaking at an Assembly meeting yesterday, deputy speaker Somchai Wesaratchatrakool, said the Bt40 million would be spent instead on flood prevention and education projects under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) supervision.
He said: “Overseas trips are important, as the city management might be lagging without them. But the money saved will be spent on BMA projects, under the National Council for Peace and Order’s key policy of returning happiness to people.”
Somchai said several trips planned by the councillors did not involve cities that the BMA had signed memorandums of understanding with, adding that if necessary, the BMA could invite representatives over from Bangkok’s sister cities.
