Bangkok: The Prime Minister stated that the overall outcome of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting was "everything was okay," choosing not to address the issue of Sirikanya exposing the government's shortcomings.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul departed the NSC meeting early, delegating the chairmanship to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkaew. When questioned by reporters regarding Deputy Party Leader Sirikanya Tansakul's allegations about the government secretly using borrowed funds for the welfare card program, the Prime Minister advised directing such inquiries to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanpraphas. Regarding the NSC meeting's overall outcome, he remarked, "It was very good, everything was okay."
Reports suggest that the meeting's agenda today will concentrate on three main issues related to the Thai-Cambodian border. The discussions are expected to focus on strategies for addressing maritime claims, transitioning from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) before engaging in further bilateral negotiations. Additionally, the meeting aims to address the topic of Cambodian labor, previously restricted from working in Thailand, and tackle concerns from the private sector about labor shortages. Lastly, the meeting will deliberate on resolving challenges related to exports and transnational crime.