Ex-MP Alleges Severe Damage to Parliament Building After 2-Year Warranty Expires
Former Bangkok MP Wilas Chanthphitthak warns that parliament's construction warranty expired July 15, leaving numerous defects including loose tiles and water damage unrepaired, and calls for extended warranty periods and contractor account
At 11:40 a.m. on July 16, 2024, at the parliament grounds, Wilas Chanthphitthak, a former Bangkok MP from the Democrat Party, announced the expiration of the two-year construction warranty for the parliament building on July 15. He noted that as a former chair of the House anti-corruption committee, he had monitored the project during multiple expansions and found numerous defects, leading to 65 complaints to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. He challenged anyone who disputes his claims to sue him.
Wilas said July 15 marked the completion of the two-year warranty period and the first day beyond contract. He proposed seven actions for parliament:
1. The contract contains three separate performance bonds totaling no less than 1.5 billion baht, most of which have been paid, with only one installment remaining.
2. The warranty period should extend beyond July 15, 2024, until all defects are corrected, as the contractor has not yet been called to repair the damage.
3. Parliament must expedite repairs, as numerous problems exist—including loose tiles on riverside embankments—and the warranty timeline must be extended until all issues are resolved.
4. Parliament should not create budgets to benefit the contractor by funding repairs in problem areas, such as the 123 million baht glass hall renovation this year, which itself contains multiple contract violations.
5. The 14 construction contracts contain serious defects, with all subcontractors poorly vetted and uninvestigated. One subcontractor received 2.993 billion baht in work yet submitted bids during the original contractor selection, raising suspicion of impropriety that warrants investigation.
6. Officials are being threatened and warned not to investigate, with threats of transfer if they persist. Such intimidation must stop, and any transfers will be contested in court.
7. Wilas, who has already filed 65 complaints, continues to find numerous defects and plans to submit additional complaints, particularly regarding water damage issues.
