Equipment to be scaled back for new Parliament

The sophisticated system, with a price tag of more than Bt6 billion, was this week rejected by the Cabinet.
The construction budget approved by the House for this fiscal year was more than Bt8.5 billion, with more than 70 per cent of it earmarked for an IT system with top-notch equipment.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday complained that some of the items were too expensive. Subsequently, the president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, ordered involved agencies to clarify the matter.
Sorasak insisted that the Bt8.5-billion budget was not too high but said he had given up some of the items that were targeted for criticism such as the microphone systems, which were priced at Bt700,000 per set, and a Bt75,000 clock.
The purchase plan had been made taking into consideration future technology, he said. In addition, all the equipment in the plan matched the needs and use of Parliament, he added.
They were of industrial grade, Sorasak explained, noting their durability would have ensured they could take heavy workloads such as continuous use for over 24 hours, which was in line with the parliamentary affairs.
Some of the technology planned in the purchase had also been designed as a solution for Parliament work, the official added, such as preventing illegal voting by MPs on behalf of their absent colleagues. The new voting system also involved fingerprint scans for identity verification in addition to the use of an ID card, Sorasak said. 
However, he admitted that the prices quoted in the budget plan did not refer to those set by the Bureau of the Budget. He said the equipment with such specific specifications for Parliament were generally not available in the market. 
Both the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) had already sought information from the office and may investigate the issue, he said. 
Following a furore over the additional Bt8.5-billion budget, Sorasak said involved agencies had considered reducing the quality as well as quantity of equipment. For instance, from planning to give each MP their own microphone, now two MPs might have to share a microphone, the official said.

‘Critical to pass budget plan’
The working committee would convene next Monday to reach a conclusion, he added. 
But it was not clear by how much the initial Bt6.5-billion budget could be reduced, Sorasak said.
“But we hope that the budget plan will pass this time. If does not, it would affect the whole construction plan,” he said.
Completion of construction of the new Parliament had already been delayed a couple of times. Officials were now concerned that the construction company would exploit the rejection of the budget as an excuse to further delay the plan.
Currently, officials had set December next year as deadline to make sure it would be ready for the new Lower and Upper Houses expected also next year.