Sophon Mows Lawns and Lifts Cranes to Landscape Parliament
Parliament President Sophon Sarum personally led a landscaping cleanup at the parliament complex, firing back at opposition critics by asserting building management is his core duty.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Parliament President Sophon Sarum led a volunteer cleanup initiative around the parliament complex.
- The parliament chief personally mowed the lawn and operated a crane to trim palm trees.
- He firmly pushed back against opposition MPs, stating facility management is the president's direct responsibility.
- Dismissing accusations of political theatrics, he emphasized his dedication to serving the public.
On July 27, 2026, at 09:30 AM, Parliament President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Sophon Sarum chaired a ceremony honoring His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's Birthday Anniversary on July 28, 2026, to demonstrate loyalty and deep gratitude. The morning events commenced with a religious chanting ceremony and offering food to ten Buddhist monks.
Subsequently, Mr. Sophon inaugurated the royal well-wishes project in front of the statue of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), where officials participated in signing blessing books and recited the volunteer oath "We Do Good Deeds with Our Hearts." He then led executives, civil servants, and employees in performing public service activities surrounding the parliamentary grounds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During the volunteer activities, Mr. Sophon watered plants and ordered the installation of extended piping directly to the roots to ensure proper hydration. Furthermore, he personally mowed the grass and rode a cherry picker crane to prune dead palm fronds, focusing on maintaining cleanliness and neatness throughout the parliamentary compound.
In an interview following the event, Mr. Sophon revealed that since the building warranty period has expired, maintaining such a massive facility has become a heavy burden. Due to transitional budget constraints and a shortage of specialized landscaping personnel, the parliament leadership has rushed staff to adapt and allocated budgets to repair and maintain all infrastructure, including IT systems, elevators, staircases, and the expansive 100-rai outdoor area.
The expiration of the warranty for the massive new parliament complex in Kiakkai highlights the ongoing logistical challenges of managing a mega-project funded by public taxpayers. While the Speaker's hands-on approach demonstrates a proactive stance toward facility maintenance and cost management, it also underscores the delicate intersection between administrative duties and political scrutiny from opposition lawmakers regarding the appropriate scope of a legislative leader's responsibilities.
When asked about opposition MPs criticizing that building maintenance is not the parliament president's duty, Mr. Sophon swiftly hit back, asserting that managing the facility's orderliness is indeed his explicit responsibility.
"I don't know about the past, but this is my duty as the building administrator to keep things orderly. Aside from meetings, if the president doesn't do it, everything falls apart. Because this building was built with public taxes, it must genuinely benefit the people with dedication. Whoever says anything, that's their business; I don't care. Those who like me will call it good, and those who dislike me will criticize it as long as they live."
Sophon Sarum
Mr. Sophon also addressed chronic building issues such as cracked flooring and water leaks, clarifying that the leaks stemmed from insufficient drainage capacity rather than a lack of budget approvals, emphasizing his commitment to fixing current problems rather than assigning blame. Later in the afternoon at 1:00 PM, parliament held a seminar on the monarchy in Thai society, followed by a meditation and chanting session for royal well-wishes at 3:00 PM.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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