Pricey pens latest Social Security spending targetListen to this articleA fresh controversy has emerged over spending by the Social Security Office (SSO) after documents revealed the procurement of 500 engraved pens worth nearly 240,000 baht using a “specific-selection” method. Sahassawat Kumkong, a People’s Party election candidate, alleged that luxury pens bearing personalised names were distributed to senior officials, advisers and former high-ranking bureaucrats. The disclosure has reignited public scrutiny of Social Security Fund spending, following unresolved questions over costly buildings, an 850-million-baht app that has crashed, overseas study trips and 7,000 sets of uniforms. In a related development, the War Veterans Organisation (WVO) issued a clarification on Friday defending the legality of uniform and calendar procurement contracts wit the SSO. Documents show the WVO won a bid for the controversial 35-million-baht uniform tailoring project for SSO officials.
