Sophon and Mongkol are scrambling for a budget to repair the parliament after the insurance contract ended. They plan a major overhaul of Sala Kaew, which has never been used, and are preparing to open seminar rooms in the parliament for external rental to raise funds for the agency.
On 19 August 2026 at 14:30 at the parliament, Mr. Sophon Sarum, Speaker of the House of Representatives, along with Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate, inspected the parliament building after the insurance contract expired to identify areas needing repair and renovation. They toured unused rooms and the Sala Kaew in front of the building, which has never been opened and is now dilapidated. Sophon said many areas require renovation. They need to find useful purposes for vacant rooms, some of which have never been entered since construction, including Sala Kaew. It should not be just a symbolic structure but must serve a real purpose. Constructed of wood and exposed to sunlight, Sala Kaew is hard to maintain, so they need to study how to make practical use of it.
When asked about the budget source for renovations since the insurance contract ended, Sophon said there is none and they are still considering options. He added that he personally had to climb up to trim trees and led officials in monthly big cleanings. Regarding Sala Kaew, it should be used to receive domestic and foreign guests or host exhibitions to attract visitors; building it without visitors is pointless. They are still thinking and ask for time. When asked if they would rent seminar rooms to outsiders to generate income, Sophon replied they need to review regulations to see if it's possible. It's better than letting the space deteriorate over time and would enliven the parliament. Additionally, they plan to create a pedestrian street in front of the parliament building after the completion of the new skytrain line. Whether it will be finished during his term is uncertain, but he asks for everyone’s support so they can stay in office longer.
