The civil works and town planning office of Thailand’ssouthern coastal province of Prachuap Khiri Khan has launched an investigation into an official for allegedly issuing a permit unlawfully, for a private company to hold a car race from November 24th to 28th on Prachuap Bay beach road and the road around Khao Chong Krachok mountain, covering a distance of 2.3km.

The race, organized by PT Prachuap Grand Prix 2021, has already been ordered postponed to January 19th to 23rd by Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Governor Sathien Charoen Rian,reportedly on the grounds that the race coincides with the Sub-district Administration Organization elections on November 28th.

The provincial police chief, Pol Maj-Gen Wanchai Tharanatham, said recently that he has not yet granted approval for the closure of the road for the race and is waiting for the organiser of the event to produce relevant documents, including the permit for the race.

He also said that he would like to know whether the event organiser has the consent of most of the people in the Muang district, as well as the provincial communicable disease committee.

Suvit Polsen, the chief of the provincial civil works and town planning office, said that the official in his office who is now under investigation issued an official letter, without authorisation, to allow the event organiser to hold the contest and to install safety equipment along the route.

He said that the right to allow the use of the public roadsbelongs to the local administration organisation, in this case the Muang district municipality.

Seksant Chanthorn, leader of the local anti-corruption and consumer protection network, alleged that some local administration units have been working hand in glove to benefit the company, without receiving consent from the people.

Mrs. Kularb Faengkaew, chair of the municipal council, said that the council was totally unaware of the planned race and the issue has not been discussed by the council.

She claimed, however, that most council members would not grant permission for the race, even if a permit was sought by the town’s mayor.