Activist Srisuwan Janya will on Saturday petition the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) to probe the conduct of 277 MPs who caused a House meeting on Wednesday to collapse.
A lack of quorum forced House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to adjourn the session held to debate draft legislation on hazardous substances. Only 206 out of 483 MPs declared themselves present, resulting in a lack of quorum.
Reports suggested that several MPs were present in the chamber, but they did not identify themselves. It was said to be a tactic to delay the deliberation of a draft law as they were unable to reach an agreement on the matter.
Mr Srisuwan, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, said by not attending the meeting and causing it to collapse, the MPs committed an ethics violation under the charter.
He said these MPs should not be left off the hook, and he would today submit the names of 277 lawmakers to the NACC for investigation. If the NACC suspects wrongdoing, the case will be forwarded to Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.
Mr Chuan said yesterday the meeting collapsed because the MPs had differing opinions over the draft law and they failed to reach an agreement over whether the bill should be withdrawn or put to a vote.
He said the MPs who wanted a review opted not to declare themselves for the meeting so that the draft could not be put to a vote.
He suspected that Section 6 of the draft was the one at the centre of the disagreement.
Asked if their conduct was considered a violation of ethics, Mr Chuan said the issue should be investigated.
Mr Chuan said he was informed by the House scrutiny committee that the legislation was urgently needed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, it seemed the various ministries involved in the bill left the issue to the committee, whose members were split among themselves, he said.
The House Speaker said the MPs should iron out their differences and decide what to do with the draft.
"I've asked them to work it out. Don't waste any more time," Mr Chuan said. "If they think the bill didn't stand a chance, they should ask permission to withdraw it."
The meeting collapse has drawn wide criticism from the public.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday played it down, saying it was the first of the current session to discuss the bill.
When asked about claims that it was a tactic by MPs to oppose the bill, Mr Wissanu said it was similar to a walk-out and noted that there were many tactics used by lawmakers to stall certain issues.
However, he said if a crucial bill was pending a vote and that meeting collapsed, it would have adverse impacts.
Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of Seri Ruam Thai, yesterday called for an investigation into the meeting's collapse, saying action should be taken against those who committed an ethical violation.
He denounced those who deliberately forced the meeting to collapse by not declaring themselves present, saying they were irresponsible.