MPs turn down bags
3 January 2009
National Assembly members resented the idea of receiving a cheap freebie so much that they spent a good 20 minutes of the first morning of the year talking about it, in session.
The Speaker brought up the matter saying Druk Holdings and Investments (DHI) had offered each parliamentarian a new leather bag but there was a catch. By law, no parliamentarian could accept a gift worth more than Nu 1,000; and each bag was worth Nu 1,800.
So, the Speaker suggested, honour the kind gesture by accepting the bags and using Assembly funds to pay back Nu 800 for every bag to DHI. A rule bent but not broken, no harm done, right? Wrong. The MPs would have none of it.
“It has been only eight months since we took office,” one member said. “If we take the bags people might think of us as greedy schemers eager to grab anything possible.”
“Whether the expenses are borne by DHI or the Assembly, the source of the funds is the same,” said another. “Let us nip such practices in the bud.” A few voices later, the Speaker pointed out that the house was unanimous in rejecting the could-have-been new year gifts. He said that was how the Assembly should continue to respond if such offers came up again in the future – which obviously was now not likely.
Somewhere in the premises of DHI, there are today some 80 lonely bags whose fates have suddenly become most uncertain; not to mention a few flushed faces as well. Bhutan’s MPs categorically refused to accept the leather bags. They are hanging on to their patangs though.
By Kunga T Dorji
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Loading ...Zakar for Friday July 30 2010
20th Day of the 06th Month - Iron Male Tiger Year
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May because the bag was not so woth
Isn’t DHI wasting our scarce resources in purchasing such expensive new year gifts? The money could have been better used…
Was DHI trying to bribe the parliamentarians?. I dont see the reason for DHI to give leather bags as New year gifts to the parliamentarians. Was that a kind of advertisement?.
DHI is an institution. But someone in the organization should be held responsible. I strongly believe that DHI is NOT ignorant about rules giving gifts to MPs. Besides, remember the cost of bag, Nu. 1800, if it makes to some far flung remote rural areas of Bhutan, would happily feed a small family for a month. Giving bags to MPs does not any where hinge on GNH.
Stop squandering tax payers’ money. It is not the receiver that should be guilty but the giver too, considering the the intention that is given with.
Yours sincerely,
Xyz
No our MPs don’t accept 1800 in kind(bag). It has to be Nu 180,000.00 in cash to make our MPs happy. They proved it with driver ealier.
Why all this hue and cry over DHI who did something right. Nu 120,000 is something an individual official spends from goverment coffers for personal gain, so what is the harm when DHI is marketing its purpose and funtion to our sefl centered MPs. Something has happened for sure, our MPs now know that there is some thing called DHI( hopefully the mandate too?).
COMMON,BAG IS NOT WORTH THEIR PATANG AND BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE SUGGESTION TO MAKE; WOMEN MP SHOULD WEAR ZOW(SICKLE).AFTER ALL THIS IS ALSO CULTURE.