Government Vows Central Funds Will Cover Southern Police Allowances
Minister Pharadon Preechananontkul assured that police allowances in Thailand's southern border provinces have not been cut and that central budget funds are available if allocated amounts run out due to special missions. He explained that both police and military have unpredictable duties, and the government can approve emergency funding through the Cabinet when necessary. The opposition Prachachon Party has challenged the government on this issue through media queries.
Pharadon affirmed that the police budget for the southern border region has not been cut. He explained that the missions of both the military and police differ from other agencies because they involve uncertain special duties. He noted that last year, military units faced budget shortfalls when unexpected events occurred, and the solution was to request additional funds from the government. The Prime Minister discussed with the Cabinet that when genuine necessity arises, central budget funds can be approved. The same applies to police units: when they carry out missions and incur additional burdens after exhausting their allocated allowances, they can request central funds. The Prime Minister stated clearly that critical missions caring for the people will never lack funding because central budget support is available.
"I want to reiterate that there is no way the budget will be insufficient. Whatever constitutes a special mission, the government can use central funds to support allowances for officials performing those special duties. That is the principle," Pharadon said.
When asked whether agencies can spend their allocated allowances first and then request central funds if needed, Pharadon explained that the budget for police, military, and border patrol police allowances is set as a lump sum. However, if funds run low — for example, by the third quarter when many missions arise or government policy mandates additional special duties — and the allocated portion is exhausted, he believes the Prime Minister will bring the matter to the Cabinet to request central funds. He confirmed there is no problem and no government error, nor any mistake at all; it is simply that the annual budget is set at different levels each year, and actual spending varies annually.
The Prachachon Party has tasked the media with questioning Anutin on the southern border police allowance cuts, as inviting him to answer in parliament is difficult.
