Lawmaker criticizes NBTC for neglect of unfinished headquarters building
A Blast at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC): Rukchanok Srinork's Takedown
Bangkok's People's Party (PP) representative, Rukchanok Srinork, hasn't minced her words when it comes to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). She's accusingly pointed out the commission's "incompetence" and alleged financial mismanagement concerning the abandoned plan for a sprawling headquarter complex.
The proposed 2.6-billion-baht office building, initially slated for completion in 2022, has seen its construction contract terminated, according to Rukchanok. The NBTC has attributed the project's abandonment to design changes and coronavirus-linked work disruptions.
Back in 2013, the blueprint for the ambitious office complex was drawn up. Construction commenced in 2019, as per Rukchanok. Often, alterations to the design jack up the costs. Also, project design and supervision expenses reached an extra 100 million baht, she noted.
Rukchanok, as a House committee member on state budget planning and spending, has promised a construction plan and bill of quantities within ten days.
The MP also hinted at inconsistencies in the NBTC's budget approval process compared to other government agencies. Unlike its counterparts, the NBTC had the latitude to decide on significant projects without the approval of the Budget Bureau. Moreover, the House scrutinized none of the NBTC's projects.
The NBTC reaps considerable revenue from collecting fees of up to 2% from broadcast license holders each year. This substantial income, Rukchanok asserted, grants the NBTC a certain financial independence, which can supposedly influence budgeting decisions.
Rukchanok hasn't hesitated to question the NBTC's handling of a 600-million-baht expenditure on World Cup viewing rights and its internal management issues, such as the absence of a secretary-general for over five years and potential telecom company influences that may be skewing operations.
"The leadership at the NBTC is pathetic," she scoffed, "they can't even handle illegal SMS messages and border internet connections from scam syndicates!"
As of press time, the NBTC had yet to respond to Rukchanok's accusations.
Insights:Rukchanok's accusations primarily revolve around the NBTC's lacking oversight, budgetary irregularities, project delays, and internal dysfunction. Specifically, she points out the NBTC's autonomous budgetary decisions, the cost increases stemming from project delays, the internal management issues like a vacant secretary-general post, favoritism towards telecom firms, and lack of Civil Service Commission approval for new job positions.
- Rukchanok, as a member of the House committee on state budget planning and spending, has promised a construction plan and bill of quantities for the abandoned NBTC building project within ten days.
- The proposed NBTC building project, which was supposed to be completed in 2022, has seen its construction contract terminated due to design changes and coronavirus-linked work disruptions, according to Rukchanok.
- Rukchanok has accused the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of financial mismanagement concerning the abandoned NBTC building project, alleging that alterations to the design jacked up the costs and project design and supervision expenses reached an extra 100 million baht.
- Rukchanok has questioned the NBTC's handling of significant projects, noting that unlike other government agencies, the NBTC had the latitude to decide on significant projects without the approval of the Budget Bureau, which she believes could be a factor in budgeting decisions and potential favoritism towards telecom companies.
