Reckless approval of finance bills by MPs can sink a government, warned Borwornsak Uwanno, former chairman of the constitution drafting body.
Invited to speak in Pattaya at the first meeting on Wednesday of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MPs elected in the March 24 election, Mr Borwornsak said MPs have crucial duties to perform.
They must tackle problems and ease troubles for their constituents and also pass laws including important bills involving the nation's finances.
Mr Borwornsak, who headed the first charter writing committee after the National Council for Peace and Order took power, warned MPs that they must not pass finance bills hastily or they could backfire on them.
He suggested MPs study Section 144 of the constitution governing finance bills carefully.
If finance bills are passed recklessly, cabinet ministers would have to take legal responsibility, and lose their jobs as well as their right to vote for the rest of their lives, he said.
In addition, the charter says MPs who vote for such bills would be liable for damages incurred by the legislation, according to Mr Borwornsak.
At one point in his talk, Mr Borwornsak paraphrased famous Indian thinker, Amartya Sen, saying people may go hungry under an elected government but they would die of famine under a dictatorship.
That is because under democratic rule, there are MPs to work for people's welfare and solve problems on their behalf.
Mr Bowornsak congratulated the PPRP MPs on their election success and said he was invited to speak by deputy leader Suvit Maesincee.
He said he knew many party members with whom he has worked before.
Also on Wednesday, the Pheu Thai Party convened a meeting comprising more than 30 first-time MPs.
Chief party chief strategist, Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan, warned them they must be wary of many restrictions presented by the constitution and tread carefully as they take up their new jobs.
The party plans to host further sessions to familiarise MPs with the contents of the charter and what they must watch out for.
Khunying Sudarat told the MPs they must communicate with their constituents regularly.
