BMTA union calls for suspension of director over Bangkok bus switch
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)’s labour union on Tuesday called on the government to suspend the BMTA director pending an investigation of his conduct.
The union accuses BMTA director Kittikan Chomdoung Charuworapolkul of committing serious management errors, including his decision to decommission the fleet of 486 air-conditioned NGV (natural gas vehicle) buses instead of fixing them.
The union’s letter of complaint, signed by its president Pramit Mekchai, was addressed to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
The union laid out the following four allegations against Kittikan:
- His decision to decommission 486 Bonluck brand NGV buses from December 29, 2023 had caused severe damage to the BMTA and its public transport services.
- He had centralised human resources management to himself.
- He had halted recruitment of new bus drivers and conductors despite their key role in providing BMTA services.
- He wasted BMTA budget by spending it on unnecessary reformation of the head office.
The letter claimed that if allowed to remain in his post, Kittikan would cause more damage to the BMTA, the state and the public.
It called on Suriya to urgently set up an investigation committee and transfer the director to an inactive post at the Transport Ministry pending the results.
The union said if its call went unheeded, they would consider new steps to protect the interests of the BMTA and the state.
