Thai Government Promises Transparency in $58B Stimulus Package

After administration officials promised transparency, the Thai Government unanimously passed a U.S. $58 billion (1.8 trillion baht) stimulus package. The stimulus package is designed to resuscitate an economy expected to contract for the first time since 2009. Above all because of ripple effects from the coronavirus pandemic.

Except for a few abstentions, the 250-seat chamber voted in favor of the government’s counter-COVID-19 decree. It will be presented to the Constitutional Court before being passed on to the king for his approval.  The action followed the Central Bank’s earlier prediction that the Thai economy could shrink by 5.3 percent this year. After the lower house approved the packages the Senate spent two days debating. Furthermore seeking confirmation from Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s administration that there would be transparency in the spending process. “I can tell that, in order to conduct any projects, the voices from the ground must be heard first. The wishes of all sectors, be they agriculture, industry, tourism, services and so on, will be honored,” Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda told the Senate. Adding that Prime Minister Prayuth had heard their concerns.

In April, Prayuth sought a loan of $30.5 billion (962 billion baht) from domestic banks to improve public health services to fight COVID-19. Also to cushion impacts on local businesses and hand out a relief subsidy of 15,000 baht to millions of citizens. Including farmers and workers in the entertainment sector. The packages include another $15.26 billion from the Bank of Thailand earmarked for soft loans to small and medium-sized enterprises and another $12.24 billion to aid established firms and stabilize bond markets. Puri Pongsuthi, a pub and restaurant owner in Khon Kaen province, said he has faced huge losses. Above all because customers were allowed to eat in the restaurant but he couldn’t sell liquor. “In the last two months I lost 83 percent of sales and I owe beer companies because I cannot sell beer even though it is my main source of income,” Puri told BenarNews. “I wish the government allows customers to sit in and drink beer.”

Opposition officials called for a house committee to be established to monitor spending. But there were no details on whether it would be established. Anupong said certain projects and spending would be handled through provincial committees. Which would include private sector and civil society members to counter possible irregularities. He was one of the three key members of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the official name of the junta that toppled the elected Thai government of Yingluck Shinawatra six years ago. The coup led by Prime Minister Prayuth, the then-army chief.