An audit report that gives us a clear picture

Your summary on the integrity of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), as extracted from the excellent investigative report of the Office of the Auditor-General, was very well narrated with points of doubt highlighted.
For the first time, the auditor report was so timely and effective. The report threw light on the dubious bidding process for the BMA’s “Bangkok Light of Happiness” project. It did raise doubts about the independence, fairness and pricing.
Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra’s defence that “...I have never ordered anyone to break the law”, as quoted by John Shepherd in a well-written letter of May 25: “The BMA has lost touch with those it serves”, reminded me of this governor’s retort last year that if one cannot cope with floods, then one should “go and live on a mountain”. The flood retort was truly hurtful even if the Democrat leader came out with a defence that it was a joke.
Naturally, one would never imagine that he would order anyone to break the law. But the high-level officials involved were his employees and acted under his watch as governor of Bangkok. In England, they call it “collective responsibility”.
This news has aggravated my pain even more. I was aghast with that Light project – so gaudy and tasteless for the Bt40 million. Light of happiness? It was more Light of Crudeness! It is even more painful when you compare it with the lights at London’s Regent Street Christmas decorations that must be less costly but it is heavenly walking under those lights.
Because of the Democrat Party, I did vote for this governor. Next time, I may not vote for anyone if all candidates believe like MR Sukhumbhand,or Khun Yingluck Shinawatra on the rice-pledging scheme, that he or she is responsible for an individual action only and not the actions of subordinates.
Songdej Praditsmanont