Probe reviews Rajabhat B200mn building fiasco

During a visit to Phuket last week, Ruenwadee Suwanmongkol, Inspector-General of the Prime Minister’s Office Government Inspection Area 6 office, stopped by to inspect firsthand the multipurpose building at Phuket Rajabhat University that remains incomplete despite more than B200 million spent on it.

Ms Ruenwadee was in Phuket to join a meeting on May 14 regarding the Phuket Provincial Governance Committee, said an official report of her visit.

Joining Ms Ruenwadee for the inspection were members of the Provincial Administrative Committee.

Official reports revealed no further details of the inspection.

However, one such report assured, “The Provincial Administrative Committee will take information from the field visit into consideration and discussion, to summarize and notify those responsible for the project… Ready to proceed with accuracy, transparency and to continue to carry out the project efficiently and to the greatest benefit to the people.”

The inspection, and seeming investigation into the failed project, “focused on those responsible for the project”, namely Phuket Rajabhat University, the official report said.

Several official reports of the inspection repeatedly marked that construction of the building was funded by a budget of B200mn, but made no further mention of any other funds spent on the building.

The B200mn figures stands in stark contrast to claims by the ‘STRONG Anti-Corruption Thailand Club’ that the B495mn was spent on the building, construction of which started more than 10 years ago.

Construction began in 2013, with B199.6mn paid during the “first round”. More funds were dedicated to the project three more times, the anti-corruption group said.

In early 2016, B4.3mn was spent on hiring experts for a new design. At the end of 2016, another budget of B229.7mn was contributed to the project.

In 2022, a further B61.4mn was allocated to completing the building, originally intended to provide a venue to hold teaching courses in hospitality. Yet, the building today remains abandoned, and due to its completion and lack of care is now falling into disrepair.

“After 10 years, there is still no sign that the construction has been completed. From investigation, it was found that in addition to the problem of changing the budget funds assigned along the way, there is still a problem with land boundaries. Who does not survey the area well before starting the project?” the anti-corruption network questioned when it highlighted the issue last year.