Respect MPs memo "was not an order"

       Members of the House of Representatives have come under fire over an alleged order requiring parliament officials to show more respect towards MPs.
       It is understood the order was issued in a secretariat memo circulated among officials attached to parliament.
       Sources said it had been issued based on an observation by a House committee vetting the budget bill for 2010 fiscal year, although a committee member denied it.
       House of Representatives secretarygeneral Pitoon Pumhiran said the issue arose from a misunderstanding.
       On Wednesday, a director of the central administration attached to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives sent a memo to agencies under the secretariat.
       Citing observations made by the House committee that some parliament staff did not show enough respect to MPs, the memo reminded them of their obligations towards elected representatives.
       Mr Pitoon insisted the memo was not an order to be imposed on the officials. The memo had merely compiled suggestions and complaints aired by MPs during a House panel meeting deliberating the budget bill. Some MPs had complained officials were not showing them enough respect.
       Mr Pitoon said it was his duty to receive the feedback and find ways to make improvements based on suggestions made by MPs.
       Mr Pitoon stressed that parliament staff were not obliged to wai MPs as a gesture of respect, although he said it was in keeping with tradition to show respect to each other.
       Puea Thai Party MP for Yala Sugarno Mata admitted he had floated the idea for parliament officials to respect and wai MPs.
       Puea Thai MP for Chachoengsao Thitima Chaisaeng, who sat on the House budget panel, said the alleged order had tarnished the reputation of parliament as a whole. She thought it was wrong to force parliament staff to grovel to MPs.