BANGKOK, Sept 10 — Public works department officials are defending their purchase of the costly microphones installed in the Government House conference room, saying the department actually saves the state about Bt14 million.
In response to criticism of the extremely expensive microphones newly installed in the Government House Meeting Room 501 during the recent renovation, Monton Sudprasert, director-general of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, held a press conference today with the supplier, Asavasopon Co at the department.
Mr Monton said the department was assigned to renovate Government House and Baan Phitsanulok Mansion (the prime minister’s official residence) at a cost of Bt169 million and the task included the improvement of their audio-visual systems.
As the work had to be completed quickly within this month, his department selected Asavasopon Co for its experiences and good reputation in sound system installation.
It chose Bosch Security System DCNM-MMD microphones imported by Bosch Thailand.
Mr Monton said his department bargained for a lower price with representatives of Robert Bosch Ltd and Asavasopon Co on Sept 8 and they agreed to cut the price from Bt145,000 by 35 per cent to Bt95,250 per microphone. That will cost altogether Bt53.80 million.
As the department earlier planned to spend Bt67.99 million on the system, the bargain resulted in the department saving about Bt14 million for the state, Mr Monton said.
He said that the department had yet to thoroughly test the audio-visual system before accepting the products. (MCOT online news)
