Defends Justified pricing for chosen furniture items by Monthien
Revamped Version
The fuss over lavish furnishings at the State Audit Office (SAO) headquarters isn't as simple as it seems, according to Auditor-General Monthien Charoenpol. He clarified the pricing of items like 90,000-baht meeting room chairs and 30,000-baht showerheads during a meeting with the House committee on corruption.
When designing the building, experts were brought in to craft a plan, including specifications for each floor's equipment and decor. The SAO's role was to verify the design and proposed items were suitable and trustworthy. "The pricy items in the headlines? They were part of the blueprint. To become actual fixtures, construction had to be completed and items sourced," Monthien explained.
Unfortunately, the building collapsed before these items could be installed, due to an earthquake in Myanmar.
While some question the need for such pricey pieces, it's worth noting that upper floors are often designated for executives, with furnishings reflecting their status. As Monthien put it, executives at the SAO should be no exception—*especially since their roles are equivalent to cabinet ministers, by law.
That being said, the 90,000-baht chairs were only intended for the chairman and board members, not every SAO staff member. And the high cost of the showerheads stems from modern office buildings requiring multiple types—when combined, costs escalate.
Contrary to rumors, there's no movie theater in the SAO building. They merely have meeting rooms, with some styled like theaters or classrooms.
Despite earlier speculation, former auditor-general Phisit Leelavachiropas has distanced himself from the design process, stating his involvement was limited to the project's infancy.
- The auditor-general, Monthien Charoenpol, mentioned that the expensive items like the 90,000-baht meeting room chairs and 30,000-baht showerheads were part of the blueprint for the building in Myanmar, intended to be installed in the finished structure.
- The business of providing the items for the SAO's building may involve various areas of finance, considering the high costs of some of these items, such as the 90,000-baht chairs and multiple types of showerheads.
- In the political sphere, executive roles within the State Audit Office (SAO) are comparable to those of cabinet ministers, which could justify the high-status furnishings often found on upper floors.
- Concerning general news, it is important to clarify that the SAO building does not contain a movie theater; it has meeting rooms styled as theaters or classrooms instead.
