EDITORIAL
After years of search, the country's lawmakers have finally found a place for their new home. Cabinet's decision on Tuesday to spend an initial sum of four billion baht to relocate state agencies and a school out of a plot of land in Kiak Kai, Dusit district, clears the way for the new parliamentary headquarters.
The legislators should be congratulated on their success. But doubts remain whether the heavy investment of taxpayers' money that is expected to follow, is really justified.
Representatives will need to admit that poor showing at work by many of their colleagues has failed to impress the people who voted them into office. How many times have we seen parliament meetings collapse because a large number of MPs failed to show up for work? How often have we heard MPs are more interested in organising overseas trips than attending meetings of standing committees, of which they are members, and do the jobs they were supposed to do?
And what about some elected representatives who appear to be spending more time lobbying for cabinet seats than undertaking their law-making duties?
It is apparent that many representatives are more interested in working in the executive branch than doing the legislative work which they originally vowed to dedicate themselves to.
Complaints have often been heard that the present parliament is overcrowded. Many MPs have moaned about the lack of parking space. Others have demanded private offices for themselves and their staff members. There are currently 630 parliament members - 480 in the Lower House and 150 in the Senate. The cost of the new parliament headquarters can be expected to be very high if the complaints of these lawmakers are to be fully addressed.
The point is, the present parliament headquarters is still functioning well despite the space limitations MPs are complaining about. The compound is made up of three buildings. They are located next to the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall which has served as the venue for royal ceremonies to inaugurate parliamentary sessions, traditionally performed after each general election. It is also located close by to Government House.
After recent renovations to the main chamber, the present venue will remain in good functioning condition at least for many years to come. The lawmakers only need to manage their use of space and the facility inside the compound more efficiently.
The requirement for working offices for MPs and their staff can be met through renting space in government or private office buildings in the area. Private meetings or deliberations by standing committees can be organised at these rented locations.
Under the present economic situation, it would be more sensible if the state budget for this new parliament project were spent on matters of higher priority. The lawmakers have waited for years for a new parliament. They certainly could wait a little bit more. The new parliamentary headquarters should only be built when the country's economic situation improves.
The MPs need to understand that it is not the grandeur or size of the parliament building that improves their law-making efficiency. It is their sense of responsibility and their commitment to working for the electorate that really matter.
Without such qualities, the lawmakers will never be able to command respect from their voters, no matter how large and spacious their place of work may be.
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