Opposition group claims the army could be without jobs for at least four years.
PUBLISHED: 15 Mar 2024 at 20: 46
The government has been criticized by The Move Forward Party for rejecting the military’s ask for a budget to purchase a new warship in the fiscal year 2024. It has described the decision as a possible failure to defend the country’s interests.
According to Move Forward MP for Bangkok, Chayapol Sathondee, the new ship, which would be assembled directly under the purchasing program, is important to the military’s main mission since HTMS Rattanakosin is scheduled for decommissioning in two years.
Since it takes four to five years to develop a ship, the state will have only three interceptors in assistance for four decades after HTMS Rattanakosin , is retired from support, he said.
He predicted that financing will probably need to be sought repeatedly in governmental 2026 as the request was rejected and the budget for fiscal 2025 was closed.
” This poses a security risk, especially when compared with neighbouring countries. If a seafaring risk arises, no one is to blame but the state”, said Mr Chayapol.
He made the remarks after a House committee tasked with vetting the funds for the year 2024 rejected the military’s charm of its determination to decline funding for a new ship. The voting was 37 opposed to 16 in behalf, with six nays.
Mr. Chayapol claimed that the military’s ship procurement strategy is indistinguishable from its submarine buy plan, which the party is vehemently opposed to.
Frigates are crucial for maritime defense, and building them, according to him, opens up economic opportunities and fosters professional exchange for Thai employees.
The ship may be the first of its kind to been assembled in Thailand, he added.
A total of 9 billion ringgit in funds calls from 731 state firms was approved by the House committee vetting the budget expenses. On March 20 and 21, the invoice is scheduled for its second and third observations.