The highly praised digital wallet system is now under uncertainty as a result of Settha Thavisin’s departure as prime minister, with the decision Pheu Thai Party and the cupboard eliciting conflicting opinions regarding its future.
Those who have signed up for the 10,000-baht handbook have also voiced concerns about the misuse and theft of their personal data.
The expulsion of the entire case was a result of Mr. Srettha’s dismissal on Wednesday, leaving ministers in a caregiver capacity.
The new government now has the power to decide the future of the modern pocket policy, with Pheu Thai urging its chief Paetongtarn Shinawatra or former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri to take Mr. Srettha’s place.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat stated yesterday that the new cabinet must approve any changes to the modern handout system.
He was responding to reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is widely regarded as the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, had informed coalition party officials that the ruling party’s online handout plan may be abandoned.
Soon after Mr. Srettha was sacked as prime minister by the Constitutional Court for appointing ex-convict Pichit Chuenban to the government, the party officials were informed of the shift during an immediate conference with Thaksin at his Bangkok home. According to reports, the meeting was called to discuss Pheu Thai’s choice of Mr. Chaikasem to achieve Mr. Srettha.
” We must wait until the new government’s plan speech is released.” Only then will we be sure whether the modern handout plan will change, Mr. Julapun said. He acknowledged that Mr. Srettha’s departure may thwart the completion of the program and other important projects. Phuket will have to decide whether to continue with the flyer program, he said.
However in parliament yesterday, Democrat Party MP for Phatthalung, Romtham Kham-urak, said monday that members of the public who have signed up for the handout are worried about the security of their personal information if the system, which was set to launch in November, is discontinued. He urged acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai to make sure the information does n’t end up in the wrong hands.
When Pichai Chunhavajira, the interim finance minister, was questioned about the future of the modern budget plan, he responded that the choice was not his.
Pakorn Nilprapan, secretary-general of the Council of State, the president’s legal shoulder, said that as a matter of process, the system may be paused in the midst of Mr Srettha’s departure.
But, Sorawong Thienthong, Pheu Thai’s secretary-general, maintained that the online cash handbook will continue, stating that the party has an unwavering commitment to carry out its flagship policy.
He claimed that none of the alliance lovers of Pheu Thai disagreed with the position.
In the meantime, several persons who were interviewed by the Bangkok Post said they had lost trust in the budget plan and were uncertain whether it would continue under a new prime minister.
Lert Abphakwan, a native of Nakhon Ratchasima, said he did not believe the plan would ever become a reality and that there was no chance it would ever materialize.
The handbook plan should go away, according to motorbike taxi driver Arnon Inpanpanao, but most people would prefer cash over digital money.
” I feel bad for those who bought new phones just to sign up for the modern budget scheme,” he said.
Some residents of Buri Ram expressed concern about the program’s potential and the possibility that their individual data may end up in the wrong hands. Local merchants Ben, 59, and Ya, 61, both of whom claimed they hoped the program may reduce their house bill, are included.
In Khon Kaen’s Muang area, Samrerng Rodthong, 46, said the program will vanish along with Mr Srettha.
In Si Sa Ket, Thatchanok Pimthong, 52, of Wang Hin area, said the scheme was dubious from the start, as it looked to gain significant businesses over little vendors like her. ” Policies may come across as attractive, but they are useless if they are not practical”, she said.