Front-runners in the race to be Bangkok governor have vowed to take lessons from Thursday's tragedy at the Santika pub and improve safety standards at entertainment venues, as the candidates enter the last leg of their election campaigns this week. They said they would do their best to prevent such a horrific fire happening again if they win the election next Sunday. Most agree that safety standards at city nightclubs are lacking, and some blame the city administration for the oversight.
''I went to the premises early on Thursday morning and was told the building has never been equipped with a proper safety system ... no fire escape stairs, no sprinklers, no emergency lights or alarms,'' said Yuranunt ''Sam'' Pamornmontri, candidate number 10 representing the Puea Thai party.
After conducting his own inspection, he found no safety devices.
Mr Yuranunt said he believed the Santika pub was not the only night entertainment venue lacking proper safety systems.
Other pubs, restaurants, cinemas and commercial buildings in the capital might be operating without safety measures, he said.
''If I am elected as Bangkok governor, I will make sure the owners of buildings and business operators strictly follow safety and construction laws or they will have to face the music,'' said the former Bangkok MP.
Mr Yuranunt said he would seek the cooperation of the Public Health and Interior ministries to organise fire drills for people working in Bangkok buildings so they know how to escape if a fire breaks out.
Independent candidate number 12, Kaewsun Atibhodhi, blamed Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials for failing to inspect the Santika pub building on Ekamai road in Wattana district.
He said the interior structure of the building was modified, which could obstruct exits and lead to a high death toll. It was also running without an operating licence.
He encouraged relatives of those who were killed or injured in the blaze to lodge charges of negligence against the BMA for failing to provide a safe environment.
He also told voters to exercise their rights when finding themselves in unsafe conditions due to violations of safety laws.
''If state officials can't inspect safety systems in all buildings in Bangkok, I will hire private companies to help them,'' he said.
The former Bangkok senator said he will also establish a committee to inspect safety measures at all pubs and restaurants in Bangkok.
''All materials used to decorate the internal parts of a building must not be flammable.
Materials such as foam will be banned,'' he added.
ML Nattakorn Devakula, an independent and candidate number 8, said he would make sure building owners and entertainment venues operators, especially night-entertainment hangouts, adhered to safety requirements such as those in the US and some developed countries.
The youngest candidate to be Bangkok governor said he visited the Santika pub two years ago and felt at that time safety and emergency response devices were inadequate.
''I will inspect the standard of safety measures at all buildings as often as possible, or every three months if Bangkok people elect me to be their governor,'' he said.
The Democrats' MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, another front-runner in the race, could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, a survey of 1,081 respondents on the Santika pub fire conducted by the Suan Dusit Poll showed 70% of respondents believed many entertainment hangouts were not equipped with proper safety measures,.
The rest said they had no fear because they believed it was a rare accident.
Most respondents (36%) demanded the government take action against all night entertainment operators who do not abide by the law.
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