House Secretary-General clarifies Speaker's car rental budget

Thairath•Politics•3d ago

Reader Briefing

The Secretary-General of the House of Representatives clarified the budget request for official car rentals for the House Speaker and other leadership positions.

•Siroj Phaetphan clarified the 2027 budget request for official car rentals following observations by MP Phanthil Nuamchoem.
•House Speaker Sophon Saram has requested to use his own private vehicle to save government budget on fuel and maintenance.
•Four existing official cars will reach their 6-year usage limit on January 5, 2027, and April 16, 2027.

Overview

•On July 17, 2026, at the Parliament, Siroj Phaetphan and Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichai Sangprapai held a press conference regarding the 2027 budget request.
•MP Phanthil Nuamchoem of the People's Party questioned the appropriateness of the official car rental budget, noting a cost of 1 million baht per year.
•Siroj Phaetphan stated that the Secretariat of the House of Representatives shifted from purchasing to renting cars to reduce long-term maintenance and repair burdens.
•The 2027 budget request is 5,421,600 baht, which is a binding expenditure for the years 2027-2032 (5 years) according to Ministry of Finance criteria.
•Sophon Saram informed the Secretariat of the House of Representatives that Sophon Saram intends to use a private car for duties to save budget.
•The two Deputy House Speakers and the Leader of the Opposition have expressed their intention to use official cars for their duties.
•The replacement of cars after 6 years of use follows the Office of the Prime Minister's Regulations on Government Vehicles 1980.
•Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichai Sangprapai asserted that Sophon Saram has never used a government car or claimed government fuel while serving as House Speaker.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichai Sangprapai

"Whatever you say, do you have a thought or are you thoughtless?"

จะพูดอะไร ที่พูดไปนั้น มีความคิดหรือสิ้นคิดหรือไม่

Key Entities

Person

Siroj Phaetphan(ศิโรจน์ แพทย์พันธุ์)

Secretary-General of the House of Representatives.

Wichai Sangprapai(วิชัย สังข์ประไพ)ℹ️

Advisor to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Phanthil Nuamchoem(ภัณฑิล น่วมเจิม)

MP for Bangkok from the People's Party.

Chuan Leekpai(ชวน หลีกภัย)ℹ️

Former Speaker of the House who served when the current official cars were first purchased.

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha(วันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา)ℹ️

Former Speaker of the House who used the official cars continuously.

Sophon Saram(โสภณ ซารัมย์)ℹ️

Current Speaker of the House who requested to use a private vehicle.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party of MP Phanthil Nuamchoem.

Secretariat of the House of Representatives(สำนักงานเลขาธิการสภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The agency responsible for preparing the budget request for official cars.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The entity whose criteria govern the 5-year binding budget expenditure.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where the press conference took place on July 17, 2026.

Law

Office of the Prime Minister's Regulations on Government Vehicles 1980(ระเบียบสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรีว่าด้วยรถราชการ พ.ศ. 2523)

The regulation governing the 6-year usage limit for official government cars.