The Ministry of Labour has said it is ready to cooperate with an inquiry panel set up to investigate allegations the Social Security Office (SSO) spent an excessive 7 billion baht to purchase the SKYY9 Centre on Rama IX Road when its claimed appraisal price was 3 billion baht.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Wednesday he is ready to cooperate to ensure transparency in the investigation.
“The purchase of SKYY9 is ready to be scrutinised. The SSO conducted a study on the purchase and commissioned independent companies to estimate the price and consider whether the purchase is worth investing in,” Mr Phiphat said.
Phiphat: Wants a transparent probe
The minister added that a deputy permanent secretary for the Labour Ministry, the SSO’s current secretary-general, and the SSO’s deputy secretary-general was appointed to the seven-member inquiry panel.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she instructed Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to form an inquiry panel to investigate the SSO’s purchase of the SKYY9 Centre.
Mr Anutin explained that while the SSO is under the Labour Ministry, he also serves as a deputy prime minister who oversees the Labour Ministry.
He said Mr Phiphat has also asked him to investigate the issue.
He added the alleged excessive spending occurred when the current permanent secretary for labour previously served as the secretary-general of the SSO.
Mr Anutin also said that when the permanent secretary for labour is being investigated, the official who leads the investigation must hold the same rank to ensure a smooth probe.
The current permanent secretary for labour, Boonsong Thapchaiyut, who served as the SSO’s secretary-general at the time of the purchase, on Wednesday refused to comment on the issue.
When asked if the purchase aligned with the law, he only nodded in acknowledgement.
Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin on Wednesday dismissed allegations by Rukchanok Srinork, a Pe
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