The main contractor for the project is China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co Ltd ‒ the same company at the centre of the collapse of the under-construction State Audit Office in Bangkok in March. The disaster claimed at least 92 lives.
MP Somchart noted that, following his inspection of the unfinished PEA building in Sapam and subsequent discussions with the PEA’s Public Works Division in Bangkok, it was confirmed the contractor had already been fined B210,000 per day for failing to complete the project on time.
The penalties have been accumulating for months, he said, yet little visible progress has been made at the site.
“This is a case where the project was left unfinished and awaiting completion so that everyone can use it,” MP Somchart wrote.
“However, the current weather conditions have caused it to deteriorate and remain unfinished. You can see piles of materials, but no one has continued to work on it. No workers, no one has continued. However, from what I can see, the building structure has progressed quite well.”
The PEA is reportedly weighing whether to terminate the current contract and appoint a new contractor, or attempt to push the existing one to finish the job. MP Somchart urged the authority to make its decision clear and ensure transparency for the public.
He also criticised the lack of a project information signboard at the site. “What the PEA should do is post a sign stating who is responsible for the project and which agency it falls under, the budget, when it was completed, and when the building permit was obtained,” he said. “There is none attached.”
TROUBLED HISTORY
The B210-million PEA customer service centre project began on Feb 18, 2021, under Contract No. Jor Por 10/2564, awarded to the AKC joint venture between Akkhara Development Co Ltd. and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co Ltd. The original 450-day contract expired on May 13, 2022, but work remains incomplete more than three years later.
The delays have left a half-finished building exposed to the elements, raising questions over whether deterioration has already compromised the structure. Local residents have also voiced frustration at seeing the site idle for months while the need for improved public services grows.
The involvement of China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) — a local unit of the Chinese state-owned China Railway Group — has been a particular source of unease. The company is the same contractor linked to the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok on Mar 28, following an earthquake in Myanmar. That incident, which exposed the use of low-quality steel and other irregularities, has intensified scrutiny of all government projects involving the company.
PREVIOUS WARNINGS
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee was among the first to raise the alarm earlier this year, visiting the PEA site in Ratsada and publicly questioning the quality of materials and construction practices. He noted cracks already visible in the concrete and pointed to reports that workers quickly erected black cloth barriers to prevent reporters from photographing the damage.
MP Chalermpong has also highlighted a series of red flags surrounding the contractor, including allegations of using foreign nominees, failing to comply with Thai construction laws, and engaging in questionable subcontracting practices.
Labour rights violations have further clouded the project’s reputation. In 2022, at least 16 Myanmar migrant workers successfully sued for unpaid wages linked to the same contractor, with the court ordering compensation. Other lawsuits involving non-payment and wage theft remain ongoing.
CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
For both MPs, the issue is not only about one building but also about wider questions of governance, accountability and public safety.
MP Chalermpong has repeatedly warned that Phuket, as a fast-developing tourism destination, must not allow substandard construction practices to take root. With large government projects in the pipeline, he stressed, rigorous oversight is essential.
MP Somchart’s latest intervention underscores the urgency of the problem. With daily fines mounting and the building still incomplete, he urged the PEA to show leadership by either enforcing the contract or seeking a new partner capable of finishing the project to standard.
“The public has a right to know what is happening with this project and whether their tax money is being used effectively,” he said. “If the contractor cannot deliver, then the PEA must act to protect both public funds and public safety.”