Alongkorn Pollabutr, deputy party leader, yesterday told a press conference there had been no transparency in the selection process.

"It is so strange to know that the airport development board approved a Bt498-million budget for buying 9,000 trolleys instead of accepting a proposal to get free trolleys from one company," he said.

According to Alongkorn, PJT Joint Venture - an agent for a trolley-manufacturer named Wanzel - had offered to provide free trolleys on condition it could gain income from advertisements on them for seven years.

"Wanzel is one of the two most popular brands of airport trolleys internationally. This German company has seven manufacturing bases around the world with a capacity of 1.7 million trolleys per year. PJT is a sale agency for Wanzel. Why didn't the board approve this proposal?" said Alongkorn.

On June 16, the board revealed its 18 approved projects, including one with budget approval for the trolleys.

"The board had adjusted the terms of reference of the project for a company which we later found is a manufacturer of supermarket trolleys, with no experience of airport trolleys," added Alongkorn.

"Instead of using a world-

class brand for free, why did the board select the unprofessional one that cost almost Bt500 million?"

Alongkorn is concerned that the board selected the approved company because it is owned 45 per cent by a Singaporean investor.

"I call on the transport minister and the boards of directors of both Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand to reveal this approval to the public," he said.

Alongkorn, who is chairman of the Democrats' committee to inspect corruption cases, said he would today hold another press conference to reveal another scandal related to Suvarnabhumi Airport's garbage-treatment work.