Defends Justified Expensive Choices in Furniture Selection: Monthien
Rewritten Article:
Auditor-General Monthien Charoenpol shakes off criticism over the expensive furnishings chosen for the new State Audit Office (SAO) headquarters, following the building's unfortunate collapse due to an earthquake in Myanmar.
In a meeting with the House committee on corruption and misconduct prevention and suppression, Mr. Monthien explained that the decision to opt for pricey furniture was made during the design phase, under the guidance of hired designers. The SAO's role, he clarified, was to verify the design and proposed furnishings for appropriateness and reliability.
"The much-discussed items, like lavish showerheads and swanky meeting room chairs," said Mr. Monthien, "were mere design concepts. To be installed, the construction had to be completed, and the items procured."
When questioned about the 30,000-baht showerheads and 90,000-baht meeting room chairs, Mr. Monthien pointed out that the SAO has approximately 2,400 staff, and standard chairs usually cost between 10,000 and 20,000 baht. The high-priced chairs, he revealed, were exclusively for the chairman and board members in the meeting room.
"With so many people in the SAO," continued Mr. Monthien, "it's common for executive areas to boast luxurious furnishings. Such arrangements are not uncommon among companies."
The expensive chairs, he insisted, were not meant for every staff member to enjoy. Instead, they were a symbol of status for the upper echelons of the organization, akin to cabinet ministers, given their legislative standing.
Regarding the costly showerheads, Mr. Monthien explained that modern office buildings typically include restrooms with two types of showerheads in the design. When combined during actual implementation, the cost appears significantly higher.
In response to claims about an on-site movie theatre, Mr. Monthien clarified that the spaces were merely meeting rooms, with the term "theatre room" only referring to the room layout, not their function. These meeting rooms came in various formats, such as the classroom or theatre style, he asserted, categorically denying the presence of a movie screening room.
Former auditor-general Phisit Leelavachiropas has disavowed any involvement in the design of the SAO building beyond its initial stages.
- The controversy over the expensive showerheads and meeting room chairs in the new SAO headquarters, despite the building's collapse due to an earthquake in Myanmar, stems from their high costs.
- In the networking of various industries, including finance, business, politics, and even general-news, the practice of iconic status symbols like luxurious furnishings in executive areas is not uncommon.
- It's worth noting that the SAO audits various aspects of the Myanmar government, including the finance and crime-and-justice sectors, making it a crucial part of the country's system.
- The SAO's role is not limited to fiscal audits but extends to examining the government's public utility resources, such as the selection and procurement of building materials and fixtures like showerheads.
- Although the SAO headquarters suffered a setback due to the earthquake, the focus of the ongoing discussion should be on the auditing process, providing insights into government spending and preventing potential misconduct in Myanmar.
