Digital budget, PM’s trips best agenda
PUBLISHED: 4 Apr 2024 at 04: 47
The government was criticized by the 10, 000-baht digital wallet handout scheme on Wednesday, according to the main opposition party, Move Forward Party ( MPF), who claimed there was no consistency regarding the funding source, which had already been changed five times.
MFP deputy chief Sirikanya Tansakun’s attention was on the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s premier policy, which has been delayed numerous times, and the changing source of funding on the first day of the public discussion.
She expressed concern that it is still unclear how the party’s main policy will be funded, but that the government was likely to use three sources: the 2025 annual budget, the central budget, and a loan from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives ( BAAC ).
Adjustments to the digital wallet system were also discussed by the MFP list-member MP.
The resources for the fiscal year 2024 was originally intended to cover it, but there was not enough money. It looked into other options, including borrowing money from the Government Savings Bank ( GSB), using the budget, and using both loans and the budget, all of which had legal restrictions.
The state was struggling to find sources of funding, and the changes made to the scheme’s details only served to highlight the president’s lack of preparation.
” This made individuals gain confidence and problem if the scheme may actually materialise,” she added.
Ms. Sirikanya criticized the government’s efforts to lower the cost of living, citing the lack of sustainability of the existing oil and energy subsidy program.
She questioned how the government may handle the oil-fuel bank’s bill, which was reported to have surpassed$ 100 billion at the end of March, and said borrowing was close to reaching its maximum.
The MFP MP demanded to know how the president’s policy to make Thailand a tourism hotspot may address the issue and lessen emphasis on Chinese tourists. He claimed the visa-free system for Chinese visitors was not as powerful as intended.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat responded by saying that the scheme’s facts are anticipated to become more clear on April 10 and that he could not give more information until it is finalized by the Digital Wallet Policy Committee.
He did, however, claim that the digital wallet initiative did begin in the final quarter of this year.
It is true that the legislation has changed, including the number of consumers and the sources of funding. He claimed that these modifications were made in order to advance the system because we did not want them to, but because of recommendations from several organizations.
However, Democrat Party , checklist- MP Jurin Laksanawisit lambasted the government for never focusing on critical issues and questioned Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s international trips.
” It’s fine he plays the role of marketer. But the question is, is he near any deals?”
He cited the new rejection by the organisers of Tomorrowland, an electronic dance music event, that the event would travel to Thailand.
According to Mr. Srettha,” I believe we will experience a storm of expense in the next two years.”