Parliament Erupts Over TH-AI Passport Budget Debate
Parliamentary debate over the TH-AI Passport project erupted on July 1, with opposition MPs questioning the government's spending and alleged lack of transparency, while ruling party lawmakers argued the discussion was outside budget scope.
During parliament's third reading of the fiscal 2570 budget bill on July 1, 2569, Dr. Voraset Dechkijwikrom, leader of the Thai Proud Party and list MP, discussed the government's anti-corruption strategy while raising questions about the TH-AI Passport project. He noted that Thailand's Corruption Perception Index currently sits at 116, with the government targeting a score of at least 57, up from the current 33. Dr. Voraset expressed full support for the Prime Minister's anti-corruption efforts but voiced doubts about the TH-AI Passport initiative, noting that government MPs claimed the project involved no corruption or locked specifications and that advertising costs are only 25 million baht monthly, not 1.6 billion as commonly understood.
When Dr. Voraset discussed TH-AI Passport, Pheu Thai MPs protested, arguing that the topic is unrelated to the year-70 budget since TH-AI Passport is fund money, making the debate out of order. Parliament President Sophon Saromya ruled that although TH-AI Passport is fund money, it constitutes government administration and debate would be permitted, provided it remains within proper scope without documents or references to outside individuals.
Dr. Voraset continued discussing TH-AI Passport, revealing names of executives and shareholders involved in the bidding company, raising suspicions of favoritism or specifications-locking. Pheu Thai MPs protested again that this was off-topic, while Prachuap Phatthanasinthu of the Pheu Thai Party countered that the screen specifications were not unique to TH-AI Passport alone but appeared in multiple ministry budgets.