The upcoming completion of Thailand’s new Parliament building, Sappaya-Sapasathan, is scheduled for celebration on December 10, Constitution Day, according to Deputy House Speaker Padipat Santiphada. He revealed that the construction is nearly finished, with a final audit committee meeting planned for Monday to assess the project’s progress. If the project gains approval at the meeting, the handover event may occur by the end of the month. Assuming all goes as planned, the celebration will be held on December 10, and the new Parliament will come with a two-year warranty from that date.
As part of the celebration, House members intend to host various activities, including photography contests, an open house for the public to tour the new Parliament building, and a public gathering, which is a constitutional right. Additional event details will be disclosed on September 27, as per Padipat.
Sappaya-Sapasathan, located on Kiakkai Road alongside the Chao Phraya River in the Dusit district, will serve as the new meeting place for the Senate and House of Representatives. This vast structure covers an area of 424,000 square meters and is designed to accommodate over 5,000 people. It includes museums, a convention center, seminar rooms, and a banquet hall. The construction cost for the project is around 2.2 billion baht (US$ 62,664,668).
However, allegations of corruption related to the project have resulted in numerous petitions to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and an ongoing investigation is underway, according to Padipat.
Meanwhile, former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong has expressed opposition to accepting the Parliament building’s handover in a letter to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. Watchara cited incomplete construction, concerns about the quality of materials, and deviations from the contractual specifications, such as tree sizes and types of wooden flooring. He also raised questions about whether the contractors faced penalties at the agreed rate of 12.2 million baht per day for the delayed handover. Watchara has submitted petitions to the NACC and the State Audit Office and has urged Wan to send MP observers to the upcoming Monday meeting.
