Thai House Speaker Uses Private Car, Emphasizing Budget Savings

The Secretariat of the House of Representatives has clarified the facts regarding the proposed budget for the lease of official vehicles for the Speaker of the House, following observations made by some members of parliament concerning the 2025 fiscal year budget. Mr. Siroj Phaetphan, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, stated that the secretariat is releasing details to ensure public understanding of the approximately one million baht allocated for the lease of the Speaker's official vehicle, which is part of the 2025 fiscal year budget proposal. The current official vehicle for the Speaker was purchased on January 4, 2021. The official vehicles for the two Deputy Speakers and the Opposition Leader were purchased on April 16, 2021. These four vehicles were acquired during the tenure of Mr. Chuan Leekpai as Speaker, and all four positions utilized official vehicles at that time. The current Speaker, Mr. Wanmuhamadnor Matha, and the Deputy Speakers also continued to use these vehicles. However, since Mr. Sophon Sarum assumed the position of Speaker, he has expressed a preference for using his private vehicle for official duties to save on fuel and maintenance costs. In contrast, the two Deputy Speakers and the Opposition Leader have indicated their intention to use their official vehicles. The secretariat explained that as these vehicles are nearing the end of their six-year service life on January 5, 2027, and April 16, 2027, respectively, the proposal includes provisions for new vehicles to ensure the continuity of official duties. This is a standard replacement process in accordance with regulations for government vehicles. Furthermore, the shift from purchasing to leasing new vehicles was made to reduce long-term burdens related to maintenance and repairs, a method adopted by many government agencies. The proposed lease budget of 5,421,600 baht for 2025 covers a five-year period from 2025 to 2029. This amount is based on the Ministry of Finance's guidelines and the maximum lease rate for official vehicles equivalent to the Speaker's position, which does not exceed 90,360 baht per month. This results in an annual lease cost of approximately 1,084,320 baht, totaling 5,421,600 baht over five years, which is the same amount allocated for the Opposition Leader's vehicle lease. The secretariat emphasized that the Speaker has never used an official vehicle for his duties, and only the two Deputy Speakers and the Opposition Leader have utilized the officially provided vehicles. Therefore, the proposed budget for leasing official vehicles for the Speaker, the two Deputy Speakers, and the Opposition Leader in the 2025 fiscal year is deemed necessary, appropriate, and fully compliant with government regulations and standards. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichai Sangpraphai urged critics to thoroughly investigate facts before making statements. He asserted that Mr. Sophon has never used a government vehicle during his tenure as Speaker and has not claimed fuel expenses, thereby saving state funds. He added that people should examine who is actually using these vehicles before making accusations.