BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) — Several senators denied criticisms that they are too lazy to attend their meetings in the wake of online photos showing a handful of senators in their main chamber meetings.
The Senate convened today and acknowledge the appointment of new cabinet ministers. Then it discussed criticisms on low attendance in senatorial meetings following some online pictures of Senate sessions.
Senator Seree Suwannapanont said about 50-60 senators attended their committee meetings and some others had meals which were considered normal practices. Thus, the main chamber of the Senate seemed to have low attendance. Such situations were normal even in overseas parliaments. Senators were not lazy, he said.
Mr Seree also encouraged senators in general to be aware of the criticisms and attend the main sessions as much as they can do.
Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said officials should use chat application to alert senators when their main chamber seemed to see low attendance so that they would return to the main chamber.
Pictures of low attendance by the Senate might be taken when senators were having meals, he said.
Senator Chalermchai Boonyaleepan said the main chamber at TOT Plc could accommodate as many as 700 people but there were only 250 senators. Therefore, pictures of a Senate session could cause an impression of low attendance, he said.
For the Senate’s session today, 225 out of 250 senators signed their names to attend it. (TNA)
