Bangkok: The People's Party's shadow cabinet has emphasized that the newly approved 400 billion baht loan decree must not be used indiscriminately or for long-term projects without transparency. They insist that the loan must include a clear debt repayment plan to ensure fiscal responsibility.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul, Deputy Leader of the People's Party and Head of the Shadow Cabinet Team on State Reform, expressed concerns about the Cabinet's draft Royal Decree allowing the Ministry of Finance to borrow the funds. The loan is intended to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis and support the country's energy transition. Ms. Sirikanya criticized past relief measures as inadequate and incomplete, failing to provide comprehensive support to crucial sectors like transportation and small-scale fishing, which have been significantly affected.
The government's current plan involves distributing 200 billion baht in relief funds within four months, primarily through the "Half-Price" scheme. Ms. Sirikanya warned that this broad approach might not reach those truly in need and questioned the sustainability of the government's borrowing strategy if the energy crisis persists. She argued that the focus of the relief funds should be on genuinely alleviating public suffering rather than bolstering the government's popularity.
While Ms. Sirikanya supports borrowing 200 billion baht for immediate relief efforts, she questioned the necessity of an emergency decree for the additional 200 billion baht aimed at long-term economic restructuring. She recommended a detailed budget plan be prepared and enacted as a law for parliamentary review, a process that could take around three months.
The shadow cabinet urged a redesign of relief measures to ensure targeted assistance without hidden long-term projects. They also called for a public debt repayment plan to maintain transparency and accountability.