Bangkok: Mr. Chusak Sirinil, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and a Pheu Thai Party-list MP, has highlighted the necessity for procedural adjustments following a disruption in the House of Representatives caused by a quorum counting game. The incident led to the meeting being abruptly closed by the chairman, revealing a need for revised strategies to ensure smoother governmental operations.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chusak emphasized that the Pheu Thai Party maintains a strong presence with over 90% of its MPs attending the sessions, although he criticized coalition parties for their lack of attendance. The quorum counting, which typically results in conflicts, became a focal point when it was requested immediately during a session that is often less attended due to it being a question day.
Mr. Chusak acknowledged that the government currently holds a narrow majority, making it vulnerable to such strategic disruptions. He expressed that this serves as a lesson for future sessions, suggesting continuous quorum counting as a countermeasure and urging MPs to prioritize their presence in the House, especially on critical days like Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Addressing the notion that maintaining a quorum is primarily a government responsibility, Mr. Chusak agreed but noted that traditionally, Thursdays have not been heavily scrutinized for quorum. He recognized the possibility of quorum counting being used as a political game, stressing the importance of procedural adjustments to mitigate such tactics.
Regarding potential consequences for MPs who fail to attend, Mr. Chusak stated that party leaders must engage in discussions to address attendance issues. He reiterated that the Pheu Thai Party's strong attendance contrasts with the coalition parties' insufficient presence.
Looking ahead, Mr. Chusak expressed concern about potential challenges in passing significant government legislation if attendance issues persist. He concluded by underscoring the incident as a learning opportunity to refine legislative processes and ensure clarity in future operations.