Bangkok: Former Nakhon Si Thammarat MP, Thepthai Senpong, has publicly criticized the Pheu Thai Party's newly announced "Nine Billionaires a Day" policy, describing it as a pipe dream and an unsustainable attempt to buy votes.
According to Thai News Agency, Thepthai, through a post on his Facebook page "Thepthai - Political Talk," expressed concern over the policy, which involves distributing 1 million baht daily to nine random individuals. He argued that this initiative is reminiscent of past populist strategies, which leverage taxpayer money for political gain. The policy has sparked debate, with critics labeling it a populist maneuver akin to pre-election vote buying.
The Pheu Thai Party has previously been associated with similar policies, such as the 2023 election promise to distribute 10,000 baht per person via digital wallets to citizens aged 16 and above. This policy, which was also funded by taxpayer money, was not successfully implemented after the election, leading to accusations of deceiving eligible voters. Such practices have raised calls for the Election Commission to investigate, as they represent potential misuse of public funds for political advantage.
Thepthai highlighted that while populist policies can provide temporary relief, sustainable initiatives are preferable. He cited examples of successful welfare programs from past administrations that have been continued and expanded by successive governments. These include the issuance of land title deeds, the Student Loan Fund, the elderly allowance policy, compensation for Village Health Volunteers, the 30-Baht Universal Healthcare Scheme, and the Free and Quality Education Project. These initiatives have been recognized for their sustainability and positive impact on society.
In contrast, the current proposal by the Pheu Thai Party to distribute large sums of money is viewed as poorly conceived and potentially harmful to the national budget. Thepthai urged the Election Commission to take decisive action to prevent such policies from undermining democratic processes.