Lampostgate! Thai media get stuck into latest potential corruption scandal

[webfact]

Picture: Manager

 

They are a familiar sight all over Thailand - fancy lampposts topped or adorned with a symbol of why the area is famous. 

 

But beneath the artistic merit and pride is a familiar theme in Thailand - rampant corruption. 

 

Corruption that Thailand's PM said would be over in 20 years.

 

So much so that Thai media are carrying out a witchhunt along the lines of Lampostgate!

 

Many believe that the posts, some costing more than 100,000 baht each are just another way for bent officials to skim public budgets. 

 

Last week claims were made about planes on the top of posts in the area of Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

 

Now PPTV36 reported that investigations were underway "in nearly every province". Thailand has 77.

 

 

They reported on a case in Hat Yai in the far south where the story of Menorah is a popular legend. 

 

In one area they claimed each post topped with a Menorah figure cost 104,179 baht each. The figure alone was 22,000 baht. 

 

Nearly four and a half million baht had been spent on 368 lampposts. 

 

 A local mayor disputed this. 

 

Not to be outdone, Sanook gave their example of Lampostgate. 

 

This was "A woman in a boat" on a stretch of klong in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi just outside Bangkok. 

 

Piture: Sanook

 

Claims had been made online that the posts were "worthless" and a waste of public money. A local official stressed they only cost 40,000 baht each and there were 40 not 60 as stated on social media.

 

Some locals said they liked them.

 

Then Manager entered the fray. They went to Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai in the far north where swirling catfish adorned many posts topped off with a bird.

 

Twenty two posts were put in four years ago at a cost of 1.4 million baht or about 65,000 baht each. 

 

Also last week two officials were caught red handed taking a bribe of 80,000 baht for a local authority contract. 

 

Thailand's PM Prayut Chan-o-cha famously promised an end to corruption in 20 years in 2014.

 

Seven years into his tenure it appears that lampposts may be the latest way that corruption rears its ugly if artistic head in Thailand. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-14

 

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[Surelynot]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Corruption that Thailand's PM said would be over in 20 years.

.... bet someone paid him to say that.

[Surelynot]

I wonder if the drier regions are considering lampposts of a certain shape?

[mtls2005]

Nong Prue, district encompasses Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport...

 

Cheap at 92,000 each.

 

https://www.newsdirectory3.com/the-prime-minister-of-nong-prue-subdistrict-administrative-organization-revealed-the-origin-of-the-planes-light-pole-explain-that-the-budget-is-less-than-a-hundred-thousand-only-92000-baht-per-tr/

[worgeordie]

Only cost, this.... because its not their money, they have no shame

or morals, it's just blatant corruption,  and so easy to prove it,if anybody

really cared,..

regards Worgeordie

[holy cow cm]

If any high ranking officials on the Elite ruling side are pointed at being in connection with it, I would bet they will just put a lamp shade over it and turn off the light like nothing ever happened. 

[mtls2005]

"It's not corruption when I do it."

 

 

One of the Thai values.

 

 

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

[ThailandRyan]

If I rub just one of the lamps will a Genie come out and grant me 3 wishes....

 

Seems like the officials had their wishes granted with money....

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

The road to nowhere....

[pegman]

11 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Only cost, this.... because its not their money, they have no shame

or morals, it's just blatant corruption,  and so easy to prove it,if anybody

really cared,..

regards Worgeordie

Well a good size chunk of the money is their's now.

[Nojohndoe]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

The road to nowhere....

Certainly difficult to understand justification for that placement!

[canopus1969]

Must be a shortage of female pole dancers seeing as how they now employ dolphins

[ThailandRyan]

46 minutes ago, Nojohndoe said:

Certainly difficult to understand justification for that placement!

When corruption is involved it shows no bounds or locations.  Could just have well been a gold lined sewer tunnel in Pattaya...

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

When corruption is involved it shows no bounds or locations.  Could just have well been a gold lined sewer tunnel in Pattaya...

Probably turn out to be Iron Pyrites and the mayor had away with the real gold....555

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

The road to nowhere....

I'd guess that after creaming off the available budget on the lampposts they'd run out of money to build the road.

[Mr Meeseeks]

11 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

When corruption is involved it shows no bounds or locations.  Could just have well been a gold lined sewer tunnel in Pattaya...

That's coming but it will be a monorail. 

 

Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine, bona fide
Electrified, six-car monorail
What'd I say?
Monorail
What's it called?
Monorail
That's right! Monorail
Monorail
Monorail
Monorail

I hear those things are awfully loud
It glides as softly as a cloud
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Not on your life, my Hindu friend

What about us brain-dead slobs?
You'll be given cushy jobs
Were you sent here by the Devil?
No, good sir, I'm on the level

The ring came off my pudding can
Take my pen knife, my good man
I swear it's Pattaya's only choice
Throw up your hands and raise your voice
Monorail
What's it called?
Monorail
Once again
Monorail

But Walking Street's still all cracked and broken
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Mono, d'oh!

[TooBigToFit]

It's not corruption alone. It's the amazing level of design and art skills found in the minds of Thailand's greatest creators. Soon the whole world will follow in Thailand's footsteps with such beauty. Amazing. The people are already fascinated by the artwork. What art or design school did these brilliant folks attend? ????????????

 

[khunPer]

Always look at the bright side of life: At least they didn't place the lamp post in the middle of the side walk...

 

Really nice stuff, but probably not very useful for good light on a road, and obviously a waste to spend money on artistic decorations, no matter how beautiful, when there are so many other more important cases lacking funds, just my modest opinion.

[lapamita]

they hanging in nong prue area outside pattaya   in the middle of nowhere since  years damaged arround...........................

 

i was always thinking whats that <deleted> for.......................

[PETERTHEEATER]

4 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I wonder if the drier regions are considering lampposts of a certain shape?

No, thats a fallacy......????

[DefaultName]

2 hours ago, Surelynot said:

The British Army were told to get ahead of the game and buy millions of pre-franked envelops...........built a warehouse for them..........BUT.......every time the Post Office changed the cost of postage they were all burned and replaced.

 

......

The cost was only for the envelopes, the postage isn't charged until they're actually posted.  Still costly, but not as much as if they had stamps on them.

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Seven years into his tenure it appears that lampposts may be the latest way that corruption rears its ugly if artistic head in Thailand. 

 

Enlightening.

[Rimmer]

Some off topic posts have been removed

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Also last week two officials were caught red handed taking a bribe of 80,000 baht for a local authority contract. 

 

The same "light fingered" villains????

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I wonder if the drier regions are considering lampposts of a certain shape?

I wonder if wetter regions are considering something... meow.

[overt2016]

6 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Only in Thailand.

[klauskunkel]

I can picture the family resort of Pattaya with such lampposts in certain sois, topped with an organ. You know, to make it rain...

[tingtong]

8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

The road to nowhere....

 

Wrong!

That is the 'Road to Riches'!! 

 

( Private road; entry permitted only to the chosen few)

[overherebc]

10 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I wonder if the drier regions are considering lampposts of a certain shape?

Somewhere in Saudi I think.