FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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NLA chief defends the appointment kin, spouses

NLA chief defends the appointment kin, spouses

PORNPETCH Vichitcholachai, president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said yesterday that it was understandable that NLA members would want to appoint their spouses or relatives as aides or personal experts as these were the people they could t

More than 50 NLA members have relatives working as salaried aides or experts. 
Pornpetch explained that there was no restriction on appointing family members as aides, provided the person did not have a criminal record. 
Asked if paying them a salary from taxpayers’ money was appropriate, Pornpetch said the practice predates the assembly and was in line with regulations. 
 
‘Within bounds of law’
Pirasak Porjit, NLA vice president, said such arrangements were legal and within the discretion of each NLA member and he did not wish to criticise the practice. 
It was up to each NLA member who they appointed as experts or aides, he said, and they should be able to judge if appointees were qualified or not.
NLA aides and experts earn between Bt15,000 and over Bt20,000 a month.
Among the more than 50 NLA members who have relatives as aides or experts are Air Marshal Jom Rungsawang, whose wife works as a personal expert for a monthly salary of Bt24,000. 
NLA member General Somjate Boonthanom has his son working in the same position, while Somchai Sawangkarn has given the expert’s job to his brother. 
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