SAMUT PRAKAN – A businessman held a brief religious ceremony to place a curse on the heads of local authorities if they misspend the tax he was about to pay, instead of using it wisely to develop the community.
Wichien Boonmee, 55, owner of Sak Sunthorn Construction Ltd Partnership, was due to pay almost 100,000 baht in local taxes on Tuesday.
He first placed the money in an offering tray in front of statues of King Rama V and the Prince of Chumphon, and read his curse out loud.
“I pray before the respected King Rama V and the Prince of Chumphon. If politicians or civil servants spend this money for their own benefit, they and their families will face an unfortunate future. If they spend my tax money in a rightful way, they will have prosperity.”
The two statues are situated in front of the office of Nai Khlong Bang Pla Kot Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) in Phra Samut Chedi district. After his brief ceremony, Mr Wichien paid the tax with the money he earlier placed in the offering tray.
Mr Wichien said he felt he had to place the curse. His own observations indicated that local government authorities, such as municipalities or TAOs, usually spend tax money the wrong way.
“Instead of using the money to improve the community, these agencies spend the money on executives taking overseas trips they claim to be study trips but in fact they are leisure trips.
“Sometimes, the money is spent sending canvassers to attend seminars in other provinces.
"These trips do not benefit the local community. It is a waste of several million baht each year, but no one dares to speak out,” Mr Wichien said.
He had to work hard to earn the money to pay the tax, and he wanted government agencies to use it wisely to develop the country.
“The curse is there to remind politicians and civil servants to do their job properly,” Mr Wichien said.