khwaimaisabai Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 Councillors face the music after Bangkok jaunt By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI MANAMA, BAHRAIN TWENTY municipal councillors who went missing in Bangkok, Thailand, were said to be back at work yesterday. They flew back to Bahrain late on Tuesday night after going AWOL at the end of an official trip to Malaysia, according to a top municipal source. Instead of returning on Sunday as they were supposed to, they apparently decided to check themselves into the four-star Radisson Hotel in Bangkok for two nights. The councillors were among a group of 25 who travelled to Malaysia on March 3, but only five came back to Bahrain on time after catching their connecting flight in Thailand. Their official trip to Malaysia was already controversial because it took place so close to the end of the councillors' four-year term, which is due to finish in May. Councillors from the Northern, Southern, Manama and Muharraq Municipal Councils took part in the visit, but none from the Central Municipal Council travelled - voting instead to stay in Bahrain to conclude work that had piled up. The decision of 20 councillors to vacation in Thailand instead of returning to Bahrain drew fire from Central Municipal Councillor Sayed Abdulla Al A'ali. "We (the Central Municipal Council) have managed to complete a lot of work during these two weeks, which we would have lost roaming here and there without any use," he told the GDN yesterday. "People here expect a lot from us and I wouldn't really blame His Majesty King Hamad if he decided to scrap the councils after what happened this week. "This is a shameful act and even if councillors didn't go for anything bad - deciding to go to Bangkok was a big mistake." The councillors are understood to have been given BD2,200 each from the government to spend during their trip to Kuala Lumpur. However, some of those who took part in the trip claimed they used their own cash for the sojourn to Thailand - where they paid upwards of $110 (BD41.58) a night for the hotel. One of the councillors who stopped off in Thailand was Muharraq Municipal Councill-or Sameer Khadim, but he said they had nothing to hide. "We were going to Bangkok anyway because our flights transited there and even the five councillors who came back went through Bangkok International Airport," he said. "Bangkok is a good shopping destination and no one would ever miss this opportunity to shop for good quality and cheap products. "We had this planned among us from the beginning because Bangkok is famous for its good markets. "The money we spent there came from our own pockets and not the council's budget." Mr Khadim argued that an extra two days absence did not affect the council's work and that he was working hard for his constituency. "I never let my people down and they know that I have many projects that will see the light soon in Hidd," he said. Councillor Hussain Isa, also from Muharraq, was also on the trip to Bangkok. But he claimed that since the councillors were due back from an overseas trip on Sunday, they were not obliged to be at the council's meeting that they missed on Monday. However, his own council chairman, Mohammed Al Wazzan, denied that anyone from his council had gone to Thailand - saying they only transited through the airport. "This is all lies and I believe the person behind this wants to destroy the trust of the people to the councils," he claimed yesterday. It is claimed that the councillors who went to Thailand did notify their council chairman, but did not give a reason for the visit. Three of those who took part in the trip were from the Manama Municipal Council, according to council vice-chairman Tariq Al Shaikh. He said he did not go, but was quick to defend his colleagues. "It is unfair and the municipal source that leaked the information has a hidden agenda against other councillors," he said. "Everyone is entitled to a few days of recreation and our councillors are trustworthy. "The whole country knows that none would be going there for nightlife because they are respectable and strong religiously." Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) Thursday 16th March 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 "The whole country knows that none would be going there for nightlife because they are respectable and strong religiously." I'm sure they just went there for the food and culture the same as me ::. Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 17, 2006 Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 They only shagged infidel Russian hookers. No ploblem ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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