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Kriengsak welcomesnew role
Former city clerk Kriengsak Lohachala returned to City Hall yesterday after he was selected as one of 30 new Bangkok City Council members earlier this week.
Media reports have tipped him to become the new Bangkok City Council chairman due to his familiarity with the organisation.
But the chairman only chairs meetings, has no privileges and has one vote like other members, he said.
Mr Kriengsak said the role of councillor would be different from that of his previous job as a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) official.
His main duty now will be performing checks and balances.
He said the city council would have to work under the military's policies and cooperate with various government agencies.
He argued that more councillors from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority should have been selected, to make the job of the BMA easier.
The former city clerk said he had confidence in the council, because its members were experienced former officials.
"Almost all of them have lived in Bangkok and understand the city well enough, and they want to improve it," he said.
The working process should be smoother since there will be no opposition party to dig in against any projects, he said.
"We were all selected to work together for the sake of the city," Mr Kriengsak said.
Councillor Konecharnart Chunnabhata, who also reported for duty at City Hall yesterday, said he would apply his experience in education to improve the standards of the BMA's 400 schools.
Thirteen city councillors reported to City Hall yesterday. Today is the last day for the remaining members to report in.
The first Bangkok City Council meeting is set for Sept 24 and will be chaired by Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda.
The chairman and deputy for the city council will be selected at the meeting.
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