MPs who exposed office deal ‘unfazed’ by lawsuit

Opposition members pledge to proceed to examine the finances of the Social Security Office

PUBLISHED: 19 Mar 2025 at 19: 12

People’s Party MP Rukchanok Srinork joins social security subscribers outside the Social Security Office to hear its decision about a new calculation method that will increase pensions for most members starting next year. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya) — Rukchanok Srinork, a member of the People’s Party, joins social protection subscribers outside the office to request information on a new calculation method that will improve pensions for most members starting in the new year. ( Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya )

The opposition MPs who have exposed the Social Security Office‘s ( SSO ) purchasing of an overpriced office tower claim they are unperturbed by a former labour minister who is a part of the controversy who filed a defamation lawsuit against them.

Rukchanok Srinork and Sahassawat Kumkong, MPs for the People’s Party, have pledged to continue fighting for the common attention.

Additionally, they claimed to have proof that the Social Security Fund ( SSF ) has been making unusual or suspicious spending decisions.

When the SSO paid 6.9 billion ringgit to purchase the SKYY9 Centre, a tower on Rama IX Road, Suchart Chomklin, a deputy commerce secretary in the current state, served as labor minister.

The business claimed that the purchase was made as an off-market purchase by the fund.

Because the building’s recognized price was only 3 billion baht, the opposition’s MPs argued that the purchase was improper and improper.

Marasri Jairangsee, SSO secretary-general, asserted that the market value, based on the salary approach formula, was 7.3 billion baht, but that it would be even higher if the cost approach were used, which had put it at 8 billion.

Ms. Rukchanok has claimed that the purchase was connected to a former labor minister who was a member of the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), but she did not give any details. Previous PPRP part Mr. Suchart

” We aren’t worried at all [about the petition we are facing],” said Ms. Rukchanok. Anyone in this state can infer that what we are saying and doing serves the common interest. We are genuinely expressing our opinions.

As an MP, Mr. Sahassawat said he has the right to discuss something he believes is true in people. He claimed that his people services goes beyond the court system, noting that he has provided enough evidence to refute the claims he has made.

What purpose does it serve for me to be a member of parliament if I can only speak in parliament through an representation? he inquired.

On behalf of the assistant commerce secretary, Mr. Suchart’s attorney, Phawadi Saengchan, filed a defamation lawsuit on Tuesday demanding damages in the amount of 50 million baht.

On May 26, the attorney said the court will decide whether to hear the lawsuit and decide whether to accept it.

When the Social Security Office acquired the SKYY9 complex on Asok-Din Daeng Road three years ago for 6.9 billion baht, it was the second-highest value office transaction of the past two decades, based on data collected by Colliers Thailand.

According to Colliers Thailand’s data, the Social Security Office’s purchase of the SKYY9 advanced on Asok-Din Daeng Road three years ago for 6.9 billion baht was the second-highest-valued business deal of the past 20 years.