Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s decision to delay implementation of the controversial “digital wallet” scheme has added to people’s worries about the sluggish economy and has fuelled opposition criticism of his government’s lack of a coherent strategy in running the country.
In an interview with Thai PBS World, deputy leader of the Move Forward party, Sirikanya Tansakul, faulted the five-month-old Srettha government for failing to provide clearly defined and measurable policy goals, which legislators could use to assess its performance.
“I cannot grade Srettha’s performance because he never proposes measurable targets to Parliament. It is difficult to say if the Srettha administration passes or fails. The Srettha government has made efforts to attract more investors, but it seems that they do not have a clear strategy as to which business or sector they really want to attract. The government only goes with the flow, talks to whoever makes approaches,” Sirikanya said.
As one of Prime Minister Srettha’s key campaign proposals, the digital wallet scheme has generated contrasting viewpoints. While some business leaders believe that the scheme would stimulate the economy, the Bank of Thailand’s top leaders have expressed doubts and advised the government to direct funds for more productive investments.
While the Council of State has also expressed reservations about the scheme, Prime Minister Srettha has insisted on moving ahead with it, but admitted there will be a delay. Sirikanya said a prolonged delay could affect other budgetary allocations.
“Whether the 500-billion-baht budget (for the digital wallet) comes from a special financial instrument, a state-owned bank or a loan bill, this is a very risky choice which may not be not legal, according to Fiscal Discipline Act. The impact of a delay affects the government’s credibility, namely whether it is competent enough to deliver on election promises. It also affects the economy as other projects stimulating the economy will be postponed,” Sirikanya said.
From left to right, Sirikanya Tansakul and Franc Han Shih
The land bridge mega-project is another issue that has become a subject of significant scrutiny by the main opposition party. Sirikanya is one of the four Move Forward MPs who have resigned from the House committee studying the project. They allege that the majority of the committee members have shown biases in the study of the project.
She noted that the project was initiated by the previous Prayut administration and the result of its feasibility study are questionable, with a lot, of what she described as, mistakes and inconsistencies.
Sirikanya alleges that members of the House committee have demanded clarifications on many questions, but the committee chairman rushed to end their deliberations and endorse the study’s outcomes.
“We have found that there are a lot of assumptions and figures which do not make any sense,” Sirikanya said.
She advised the Srettha government to listen to the voices of the people who will be affected by the project, especially those whose land would be expropriated.
The spotlight will be on the Move Forward party over the next few days, with its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat facing a ruling by the Constitutional Court on charges that he violated the electoral law, by running in the general elections last May while holding shares in a media company. The court is also set to rule on whether the party intends to overthrow the country’s constitutional monarchy, with its election campaign promise to amend the lèse majesté law (Constitution Article 112).
“The atmosphere in Move Forward is very positive. We are confident that Pita will be acquitted. We are ready to welcome him back to Parliament on January 25th,” she said.
By Franc Han Shih, Thai PBS World
Full interview:
