How a music video reignited public anger over deadly Bangkok tower collapse

The State Audit Office (SAO), already under fire over the deadly collapse of its unfinished headquarters last year, has poured fuel on the flames by releasing a song.

Composed by Auditor-General Monthien Charoenphol, “The Auditor’s Vow” was meant to raise the morale of state auditors overseeing the country’s finances.

Instead, its release has sparked public derision, coming less than a year after more than 100 people were killed when the 137-metre tower in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district toppled on March 28, 2025, during tremors from Myanmar’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake.

Investigators blamed the tragedy on construction and design flaws, including the use of substandard materials, inadequate reinforcement, and a faulty blueprint. Among the 23 suspects indicted by public prosecutors were engineers, company executives and private firms.

However, despite suspected irregularities in the construction contract bidding, no state officials were charged over the disaster.

Rather than acknowledging the tragedy, the song focuses on the “heroic battle” supposedly being waged by state auditors.

“Despite hardships and obstacles, our SAO must prevail and shine,” the chorus declares.

Other lines that have raised public eyebrows include:

“We, the auditors, join hands to protect the nation’s money,

The sweat of our brothers and sisters falls, soaking the shirts we wear,

Our duty is to audit the nation’s finances, travelling across Thailand.”

Monthien assumed office in June 2024, taking over from Prajak Boonyang, who signed a 2.1-billion-baht contract to construct the new SAO headquarters with ITD-CREC, a Thai-Chinese joint venture, in November 2020.

Bad timing

Many critics asked why public resources were used to produce the song and video. Others slammed the timing of the release – on February 20, just one month before the first anniversary of the disaster – calling it a deflection tactic.

Veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan called on SAO executives to take responsibility for the tragedy, which not only caused mass fatalities but also squandered taxpayers’ money and damaged Thailand’s reputation.

“The problem of corruption cannot be solved by composing fancy songs. It’s been 11 months since the SAO building collapsed, [but] the corrupt people behind it are still at large,” she wrote on Facebook.

Activist Sombat Bunngam-anong demanded to know how much was spent on the song and music video.

The agency responded to the outcry on February 24, saying the song was made in-house with the agency’s existing equipment and resources, while the video was produced by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG)’s public relations team.

“No officials from other departments were called, and the production did not affect the agency’s core missions in any way,” the statement said.

The music video had won 1.5 million views on the SAO’s Facebook page as of press time – with 24,000 (mostly “laughing”) emoticons, 1,600 comments and over 5,300 shares.

SAO Facebook videos normally draw no more than a few thousand views.

The agency restricted comments on the post after it received a barrage of criticism. The page administrator has also asked viewers to express their opinions politely, as “the SAO is helping investigate the building collapse”.

The same video has drawn more than 11,000 views on the SAO PR team’s YouTube channel, along with around 400 comments mostly slamming the agency over the fatal building collapse. “This video can only be complete with footage of the building collapsing,” reads one.

The 3.23-minute music video begins with Monthien gathering his team of executives in front of the SAO head office in a symbol of unity. The camera then shows SAO staff and auditors at work, both at their desks and in the field.

Distinguished civil servant

Monthien has no less than four academic degrees – bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from Ramkhamhaeng University, a bachelor’s in business administration from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and a master’s in public administration from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

After nearly three decades climbing the SAO ladder as assistant secretary of the State Audit Commission, inspector-general at the OAG, and chief of the OAG’s Public Property Inspection Committee Division, he rose to deputy auditor general and then auditor general in 2024.

In 2001, he was named a “distinguished civil servant” by the Civil Service Commission, while in 2009 and 2013, he received medals of honour from King Prajadhipok’s Institute, under the Parliament.

Three years later, he received the Kalayanamitra Award from the Comptroller General’s Department for his contribution to the agency.