Thai Minister denies involvement in SEA Games opening project scandal

On December 2, Thai media unexpectedly quoted a Facebook post by Rueangrith Suntisuk. According to this art director, the opening and closing ceremony plan that he and his team had painstakingly built for 7 months was suddenly changed just a few weeks before the 33rd SEA Games. Mr. Rueangrith Suntisuk said that the team took on the task in March, self-funded the production of stage models, performance ideas and received initial approval. However, by July, due to security concerns and lack of budget, the location was forced to change from Sanam Luang to Rajamangala Stadium. However, the team still tried to adjust the entire plan accordingly.

By September, after the new government took power, the approval process began to stall. In early October, Rueangrith Suntisuk received a call saying that a new SEA Games team had arrived to survey the stadium, working directly with senior officials. After two weeks of hopeless waiting, his team was forced to stop. According to Mr. Rueangrith Suntisuk, as soon as his and his team’s activities stopped, everyone was “shocked” and confused. At the same time, Mr. Rueangrith Suntisuk’s post on Facebook also received a lot of attention.

Faced with the growing concern of the Thai public on this issue, on December 3, Minister of MOST, Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, had to speak up about the incident. Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn affirmed that he had never known or signed a contract with any individual or company as stated in the Facebook post.

Bộ trưởng Thái Lan phủ nhận liên quan đến lùm xùm dự án khai mạc SEA Games- Ảnh 1. — Minister of MOST said he has never known or signed any contracts related to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 33rd SEA Games.

Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn stated: “I myself have just taken office since October 1 in the context that the budget for organizing the SEA Games, especially the opening and closing ceremony budget, has not been approved by the Government. The budget for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 33rd SEA Games was only approved in mid-October, with a total amount of 450 million baht (nearly 372 billion VND). Therefore, it is impossible to sign or implement any contract before that time.”

In addition to the above assertion, Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn also requested that the whistleblower must provide evidence of any communication with any State agency, because MOTS "has never established a hiring group or carried out related work during the above mentioned period".

Bộ trưởng Thái Lan phủ nhận liên quan đến lùm xùm dự án khai mạc SEA Games- Ảnh 2. — The organizing committee for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 33rd SEA Games was urgently established.

The organizing committee for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 33rd SEA Games was urgently established.

According to Khaosod , on the afternoon of December 3, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) held an emergency meeting to establish an Organizing Committee to coordinate work related to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 33rd SEA Games.

“The committee’s duties include six main tasks. First, to coordinate the format of the opening and closing ceremonies and the lighting of the sacred flame to ensure that they are consistent with the goals of the SEA Games. Second, to coordinate with all relevant agencies to ensure that the opening and closing ceremonies are consistent with the overall picture of the event. Third, to carry out assigned work plans. Fourth, to prepare the venue and related equipment. Fifth, to monitor and control activities during the two ceremonies. Sixth, to report on progress on issues and solutions to SAT,” Khaosod informed.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-truong-thai-lan-phu-nhan-lien-quan-den-lum-xum-du-an-khai-mac-sea-games-185251204010838854.htm