Mayor to lead 500 on Penang junket

PATONG: The Mayor of Patong, Surasak Maneesri, is to take 500 local people on an educational tour to Penang in Malaysia next week, at a cost to local tax payers of two million baht. The money to provide the 500 travelers with free bus transport, accommodation and food from August 4-7 will come from the municipality’s human resources development budget. People going on the trip will include members of the local community and municipal committees, public health volunteers, the Mayor’s consultants and some business groups involved in Patong activities. Penang was chosen, explained Sakorn Cheauyuan, a Patong councillor who was involved in planning the trip, so that comparisons can be made with Patong. Like Patong, he explained, Penang is developing fast and “has hills”. He told the Gazette,”We want to bring [the 500 trippers] to see other places that face similar problems to Patong, in order to improve our own locality.” K. Sakorn said this kind of educational tour was arranged every year in Thai provinces, but the number of people involved varied, depending on budgets. The bus convoy will leave Phuket on August 4 and travel via Haad Yai to Penang, returning to Phuket on August 7. Patong’s mayoral elections are due in November. Mayor Surasak is seeking to extend his tenure by four years.