Plan to give MPs iPADs and smart phones comes under fire

A government plan to give MPs and senators Tablet PCs and smart phones have been heavily criticised by social media users and some parliamentarians.

Senator Rosana Tositrakul, was one who opposes the idea. "Our country already has much debt so we should save the money," she said.

Rosana said the notebook computer that MPs and senators get pi3540 battery should be enough for their work. "No need for tablets or mobile phones."

Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij revealed the plan to buy 3s4400-s3s6-07 tablet computers for senators and MPs to a 3s4400-g1s2-05 battery Senate committee last Wednesday and the meeting had no comment on it, Rosana said.

She is a member of the Senate panel on preventing corruption and promoting good governance.

On Twitter, many users c7000 battery questioned whether the parliamentarians will utilise the devices.

@paenewfolder said: "I think it is p55-4s4400-s1s5 battery more or less surely about commission. Are (the gadgets) necessary for them? No. But they will take squ-902 them if they are given. But what they are going to use the gadget for?"

@Bodee said: "It is important who started this, and what the prime minister thinks about it. The public should now."

@kidousenshi posted: "What kind of an iPhone costs over Bt70,000 (S$2,870)? NACC should investigate."

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol yesterday confirmed the p55-3s4400-s1s5 Bt50-million plan, saying that with such a budget they could purchase handsets and licensed programmes.

Some 700 sets of equipment would be procured and the 3s4400-c1s1-07 next step was to identify equipment specifications.

Tablets and smart phones would be provided to MPs, senators and senior officers of the 3s3600-s1a1-07 Parliament (director level and upper).

Charoen said earlier the Parliament secretariat had identified the "best" available equipment.

Democrat MP Boonyod Suktinthai, a member of the House Affairs committee, said the lg x140 battery panel had not officially discussed the issue but there had been talk that a survey should be conducted to learn about parliamentarians' needs and necessities.

He explained that the House Speaker had squ-904 authority to decide what to do with funds remaining from last year.

In this case, Deputy House Speaker Charoen was in charge of the 63gp550280-3a project.

Boonyod said he only knew about plans to give out iPad tablet PCs, but not iPhones as well.

"Some MPs are used to the laptop they are using, and they don't want to learn to use the touch screen. I still see some MPs carrying the Toshiba laptops nowadays," he said.