Bangkok: Sophon Saram, the House Speaker, offered a guided tour of the Members of Parliament dining hall, rehearsing its operations ahead of its official debut next week. He took the opportunity to purchase various dishes, both savory and sweet, and advocated for a reduction in plastic bag usage due to increasing costs.

According to Thai News Agency, House Speaker Sophon Saram escorted journalists through the cafeteria on the second floor of the Parliament building. This dining facility opened its doors for a trial run today, aiming to serve staff and journalists through a coupon system. This test precedes its full-fledged service launch for MPs next week, following the termination of the free lunch program.

During the tour, Speaker Sophon demonstrated the coupon exchange process, where a 100 baht coupon could be traded for food. He led the group through 18 diverse food stalls featuring savory and sweet offerings, which will be accessible exclusively to members when the House is in session.

Mr. Sophon explained that the secretariat had selected the vendors under tight deadlines. He noted that, in addition to coupons, members could opt for digital payments for ease of transactions. On that day, he chose boiled dishes to offer to the monks situated on the higher floor.

While interacting with vendors, Mr. Sophon highlighted the need to curb plastic bag usage. He discussed exploring alternatives, such as paper boxes, and suggested that if members couldn't dine in the hall, their staff could use cloth bags for takeaway orders. This initiative comes in response to the rising expense of plastic bags, and he encouraged everyone to contribute to this reduction effort. Concluding his visit, Mr. Sophon informed parliamentary staff about the varied food selections available before departing the dining area.