Parliament President Sophon Leads Volunteer Team to Maintain Parliament Grounds
Parliament President Sophon Sarum leads officials in volunteer activities around the parliament building, personally cutting grass and trimming palm trees while defending his building management duties.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Parliament President Sophon leads a volunteer activity for the King's birthday celebration on July 28, 2026.
- Personally cuts grass and operates a crane to trim palm leaves around the parliament complex.
- Emphasizes that maintaining the 100-rai building after the warranty period is the President's direct duty.
- Vows to fix leaks and improve landscaping despite critics accusing him of seeking photo ops.
At 09:30 AM on July 27 at the Parliament House, Mr. Sophon Sarum, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, presided over a royal ceremony dedicated to His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his birthday anniversary on July 28, 2026. The event aimed to display loyalty and gratitude. In the morning, Mr. Sophon, along with deputy house speakers, executives, civil servants, and employees, participated in a chanting ceremony and offered breakfast to 10 monks to dedicate merit.
Following the religious ceremony, Mr. Sophon opened the royal well-wishes project at the statue monument of King Rama VII. Participants signed well-wishes books and recited the volunteer oath together with determination using the motto “We Do Good Deeds with Our Hearts.” This was followed by a public service activity around the parliament building.
During the event, Mr. Sophon watered plants and ordered staff to install additional piping directly to the roots. He then personally cut the grass and operated a bucket crane to trim dry palm fronds, aiming to improve the landscape and maintain cleanliness around the parliament grounds.
The active personal involvement of the Parliament President highlights ongoing efforts to shift institutional culture within the legislative branch. Managing the massive 100-rai parliament complex in Bangkok's Kiak Kai area has posed significant logistical and budgetary challenges since the building's warranty expired, making building maintenance a critical test for parliamentary leadership during this transition period.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Mr. Sophon revealed in an interview that maintaining the massive facility has become a heavy burden now that the building warranty has expired. Operations cannot yet be fully streamlined due to budget constraints and a shortage of specialized landscaping personnel. During this transitional phase, officials have been instructed to adapt, and budget requests have already been submitted to cover facility repairs, including IT systems, elevators, and staircases.
“We built it, so we must maintain it. Building is easy, maintaining is hard, but it is necessary to make the parliament a new dimension, a true landmark and people’s parliament. Citizens must feel they own this place too. I want to change officials' mindset to treat this place like home, focusing on real work rather than just photo ops or rituals. At least everyone should complete one activity today; volunteering isn't just about showing up for a photo,” Mr. Sophon stated.
The Speaker also addressed long-standing structural issues such as water leaks and cracked flooring, clarifying that leaks are caused by insufficient drainage capacity rather than a lack of budget. He stated that he is focused on fixing current issues rather than blaming the past.
"I don't know about the past, but this is my duty as a building administrator to keep things orderly. Besides meetings, if the President doesn't act, everything falls apart. This building was built with taxpayers' money and must truly benefit the public with utmost dedication. Whatever people say is their business; those who like it will praise it, and those who don't will always find something to criticize."
Sophon Sarum
Furthermore, when asked about opposition MPs arguing that building maintenance is not the Speaker's job, Mr. Sophon shot back that managing and organizing the parliament building is precisely his direct responsibility. He added that he pays no attention to critics and noted that afternoon schedules included a seminar on the monarchy in Thai society as well as Buddhist chanting and meditation sessions.
Source: Matichon Politics
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