Prayut: Sleeping NLA members have 'no future'

A National Legislative Assembly member is caught sleeping during the budget debate on Thursday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) if they are caught sleeping on the job their future is very limited.

The prime minister said on Friday he had a chat with NLA president Pornpetch Witchitcholchai and told him to warn all legislators not to sleep during meetings.

Gen Prayut said all NLA members found sleeping would be blacklisted from working with him in the future.

"Any members who sleep while at work will not be selected for work in the future," he told reporters at Government House, clearly upset that the topic was raised.

Pictures of some NLA members seen sleeping in the chamber during Gen Prayut's budget speech on Wednesday were widely shared on social media and the members ridiculed.

"Did you report the 3-trillion-baht budget? You only reported the sleeping NLA members. The issue is nonsense," he said.

The NLA on Thursday approved the government's 3-trillion-baht budget for the next fiscal year in the first reading.

After berating the media, the prime minister found time to give sleepy NLA member a bit of advice.

"If they want to sleep, they should sleep at home," Gen Prayut said. "For now, let them continue to work until the tenure of the NLA ends."



