Parliament forms MP Pension Fund committee; 'Warong' vs 'Sanong' on benefits

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Parliament forms an 8-member committee to oversee the pension fund for former MPs and Senators, prompting a debate on benefit appropriateness.

•The Thai Parliament has established an 8-member committee to manage the pension fund for former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators.
•MP Warong Dechgitvigrom proposed cutting excessive benefits, particularly the allowance for children attending international schools, and called for current MPs and senators to forgo their pensions.
•MP Sanong Thep Aksornarong defended the welfare provisions, citing the financial struggles of some former MPs, and challenged Warong to be the first to publicly renounce his living allowance.

Overview

•On May 7, the Parliament convened to appoint 8 committee members for the former parliamentarians' welfare fund.
•N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom proposed reconsidering welfare benefits for former MPs and Senators.
•N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom stated that benefits covering international school tuition for children are excessive.
•N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom urged current MPs and Senators to declare their intention to not receive pensions.
•Mr. Sanong Thep Aksornarong agreed to consider N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom’s proposals regarding the fund's criteria.
•Mr. Sanong Thep Aksornarong challenged N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom to publicly announce renouncing his living allowance.
•The public tax money allocated to the former parliamentarians' welfare fund is between 400-500 million baht annually.
•N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom argued that the annual fund allocation of 400-500 million baht is exploitative of the public.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on MGR Online (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: MGR Online (Original)

View Original Article

Key Quotes

N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom

"The public's tax money paid into the fund for former parliamentarians, amounting to 400-500 million baht annually, is exploitative of the public."

เงินภาษีของประชาชนที่จ่ายเป็นกองทุนให้อดีตสมาชิกรัฐสภา ปีละ 400-500 ล้านบาท ถือว่าเอาเปรียบประชาชน

Mr. Sanong Thep Aksornarong

"Please declare your intention not to receive it henceforth, so it can be announced for society's admiration."

ขอให้แจ้งความจำนงไว้ว่าต่อไปนี้ไม่รับ จะได้ประกาศให้สังคมชื่นชม

Key Entities

Organization

Parliament(สภาฯ)ℹ️

The legislative body of Thailand where the committee selection and debate took place.

Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee(กก.กองทุนบำนาญอดีตสส.-สว.)

The committee established to manage the pension and welfare fund for former Members of Parliament and Senators.

Thai Pakdee Party(พรรคไทยภักดี)ℹ️

The political party led by N.D. Warong Dechgitvigrom.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

Political party to which MPs Mr. Sanong Thep Aksornarong and Mr. Juti Krairiksh belong.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

Political party to which List-MP Mr. Pakornwut Udompipatskul belongs.

Pheu Thai Party(พรรคเพื่อไทย)ℹ️

Political party to which MPs Mr. Prayuth Siripanich, Mr. Prasert Boonreung, and Dr. Cherdchai Tantisirin belong.

Klaithum Party(พรรคกล้าธรรม)

Political party to which MP Mrs. Boonying Nitikarnjana belongs.

Move Forward Party(พรคก้าวไกล)ℹ️

Political party to which former MP Ms. Sutthawan Suban Na Ayutthaya belonged.

Person

Warong(วรงค์)ℹ️

MP and leader of the Thai Pakdee Party who proposed reforms to the former MPs-Senators pension fund.

Sanong(สนอง)

MP for Buriram and member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee who responded to Warong's proposals.

Ms. Mallika Jirapanthuwannit(น.ส.มัลลิกา จิระพันธุ์วาณิช)

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament who chaired the meeting where the committee was appointed.

Mr. Sanong Thep Aksornarong(นายสนอง เทพอักษรณรงค์)

MP for Buriram, Bhumjaithai Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Mr. Juti Krairiksh(นายจุติ ไกรฤกษ์)ℹ️

MP for Phitsanulok, Bhumjaithai Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Mr. Pakornwut Udompipatskul(นายปกรณ์วุฒิ อุดมพิพัฒน์สกุล)

List-MP, People's Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Mr. Prayuth Siripanich(นายประยุทธ ศิริพานิชย์)

List-MP, Pheu Thai Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Mrs. Boonying Nitikarnjana(นางบุญยิ่ง นิติกาญจนา)

MP for Ratchaburi, Klaithum Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Mr. Prasert Boonreung(นายประเสริฐ บุญเรือง)

Former MP for Kalasin, Pheu Thai Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Ms. Sutthawan Suban Na Ayutthaya(น.ส.สุทธวรรณ สุบรรณ ณ อยุธยา)

Former MP for Nakhon Pathom, Move Forward Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Dr. Cherdchai Tantisirin(นพ.เชิดชัย ตันติศิรินทร์)

Former List-MP, Pheu Thai Party, and a member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee.

Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom(นพ.วรงค์ เดชกิจวิกรม)ℹ️

List-MP and leader of the Thai Pakdee Party who critically reviewed the former parliamentarians' welfare fund.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance(ปลัดกระทรวงการคลัง)

Member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee representing the Ministry of Finance.

Director-General of the Bureau of the Budget(ผู้อำนวยการสำนักงบประมาณ)

Member of the Former MPs-Senators Pension Fund Committee representing the Bureau of the Budget.

Law

Act on the Fund for Former Parliamentarians B.E. 2013(พระราชบัญญัติ (พ.ร.บ.) กองทุนเพื่อผู้เคยเป็นสมาชิกรัฐสภา พ.ศ.2013)

The legislation establishing the fund for former parliamentarians whose management is being debated.