According to the deputy House speaker, renovating the parliamentary conference room is essential to decrease the expenses incurred by committees which presently must hire hotel rooms for their seminars.
In response to criticisms regarding the budget proposal of almost 1.2 billion baht for the renovation of the Sappaya-Sapasathan building in the 2026 fiscal year, Paradorn Prissanananthakul addressed the concerns.
He mentioned that he is responsible for supervising three initiatives.
The renovations encompass updating both the library and the parliamentary museum, which have been allocated a budget of 120 million baht combined. Additionally, improvements will be made to the audio systems in the 1,500-seater conference hall for an investment totaling 99 million baht.
“Every expense will prove to be worth it, and I will oversee the entire process myself,” he stated.
He mentioned that for the museum, the objective is to establish an area that highlights the history of parliament and fosters public education. Mr. Paradorn stated that this is essential, adding that between 5,000 to 6,000 square meters have already been allocated for this purpose.
Responding to opposition MPs who referred to the museum space as a “burial chamber” within the structure, Mr. Paradorn conceded that the area is presently an unutilized and vacant room.
Consequently, he has requested a design team to convert it into an engaging and accessible museum. “Personally, I wouldn’t like to have a mausoleum beneath Parliament,” he remarked.
He likewise supported proposals to refurbish the conference hall, designed for utilization by both House and Senate committees. Although this was part of the initial design, it has not been actualized yet.
He mentioned that they would seek funding through a budget request so they can move forward with the plan rather than letting it sit unused. This decision comes at a time when committees have to cover expenses related to renting hotels for their seminars.
The budget originally suggested at 160-170 million baht has now been reduced to 99 million baht.
Mr. Paradorn mentioned that the budget bill for 2026 is currently in the drafting phase and is expected to be discussed during a parliamentary session later this month.
A panel comprising Members of Parliament and external specialists will thoroughly evaluate the proposals. Should any initiative prove unviable, reductions may be implemented, he stated, emphasizing that the budget is still under consideration.
When questioned about why a five-year-old structure needs significant renovations, he explained that certain parts could be utilized more effectively, while other sections remain unfinished and require completion according to plan, like the conference hall.
When asked about the validity of the building’s construction warranty, he stated that the proposed funding was intended for expansions rather than maintenance work.
Mr Paradorn said some parts of the building have not yet been completed and this will need to be done in subsequent phases.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has likewise defended the modifications, citing the significant everyday usage of the structure by myriad individuals, as reported by regional news outlets.
The Sappaya-Sapasathan building was constructed by Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, a firm under the control of the Charnvirakul family; however, Mr. Anutin currently has no connections with the company.
The construction contract was awarded in 2013 and the building was originally scheduled to open in late 2015. However, Sino-Thai had to seek numerous extensions and the budget ballooned from 13 billion baht to 24 billion baht.
The structure was officially inaugurated in August 2019 for use during parliamentary sessions; however, it wasn’t formally transferred to the government until July 2024.
Since the opening of the building, many grievances have arisen, such as leaky rooftops, defective plumbing systems, and occasionally, certain components being used that were not detailed within the contractual agreements.
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