People's Party warns of corruption in 400bn loan decree

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

People's Party members criticize the 400 billion baht loan decree, citing a lack of concrete energy transition plans and potential for corruption.

•Sirikanya Tansakul questioned the legality of using a loan decree for a 200 billion baht energy transition based on Constitutional Court findings.
•Suphachot Chaisat highlighted discrepancies in solar cell and EV vehicle projects, describing them as misleading or lacking substance.
•Rakchanok Srinok raised concerns regarding potential bid-rigging for solar cell equipment to benefit specific contractors.

Overview

•Sirikanya Tansakul held a press conference on August 25 at the Parliament following a Shadow Cabinet meeting.
•Sirikanya Tansakul stated that legal and financial experts agree the 200 billion baht energy transition plan lacks concrete work plans to reduce energy crisis impacts.
•Suphachot Chaisat warned that the 200 billion baht fund could become a mechanism for corruption due to projects lacking detail or deviating from original claims.
•Suphachot Chaisat mentioned a Ministry of Transport budget of 4 billion baht for changing public vehicles to EVs, which may be reduced to only taxis.
•Suphachot Chaisat noted that electricity authorities clarified that the goal of 1 million households for solar cell installation is currently impossible due to technical grid constraints.
•Rakchanok Srinok expressed suspicion that solar cell procurement might be rigged to benefit contractors linked to the Blue network.
•Rakchanok Srinok reported that the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion baht loan expenditure has not yet convened after the Constitutional Court ruling.
•Rakchanok Srinok has requested data on the number of entities applying for TIS certification for solar equipment to check for bid-rigging.

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Key Quotes

Suphachot Chaisat

"It can be seen that the project is quite misleading; initially one thing was proposed, but currently, many things are facing numerous constraints."

ซึ่งจะเห็นได้ว่าโครงการดังกล่าวค่อนข้างจะไม่ตรงปก ที่ตอนแรกมีการเสนอไว้อย่างหนึ่ง แต่ปัจจุบันหลายหลายอย่างติดข้อจำกัดมากมาย

Suphachot Chaisat

"We are concerned about corruption through future procurement, whether it be misleading projects or those without substance, which may be mechanisms to divert 200 billion baht into corruption."

เรากังวลว่ามีการทุจริตผ่านการจัดซื้อจัดจ้างในอนาคตไม่ว่าจะเป็นโครงการที่ไม่ตรงปกหรือไม่มีเนื้อสิ่งนี้กำลังเกิดขึ้นและเป็นกระบวนการที่ที่อาจจะเป็นกลไกผันเงิน 2 แสนล้านบาทนี้ไปสู่กระบวนการทุจริตคอร์รัปชัน

Key Entities

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

A political party whose members are monitoring the government's loan decree.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The judicial body that ruled on the legality of the energy transition portion of the loan decree.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

A political party whose member chairs the committee monitoring the loan expenditure.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for the public vehicle EV transition project.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the financial aspects of the loan and solar cell policies.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

The ministry that requested over 60 billion baht from the loan fund.

Royal Irrigation Department(กรมชลประทาน)

A department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives requesting 20 billion baht for water resource development.

Person

Sirikanya Tansakul(ศิริกัญญา ตันสกุล)

List MP and Deputy Leader of the People's Party.

Suphachot Chaisat(ศุภโชติ ไชยสัจ)

List MP of the People's Party and member of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion baht loan expenditure.

Rakchanok Srinok(รักชนก ศรีนอก)

List MP of the People's Party and member of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion baht loan expenditure.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติฑัณประภาส)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Minister of Transport.

Suphachai Jaisamut(ศุภชัย ใจสมุทร)

List MP of the Bhumjaithai Party and Chairman of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion baht loan expenditure.

Law

400 Billion Baht Loan Decree(พระราชกำหนด (พ.ร.ก.) เงินกู้ 4 แสนล้านบาท)

A government decree for borrowing 400 billion baht, part of which is for energy transition.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where the press conference was held.