Lawmaker Alleges 140 Billion Baht Missing From Budget System
An opposition MP alleged that 140 billion baht has gone missing from the budget system, claiming goods are inflated in price by 200-300% and that 30% of costs fund informal payments during House debate of Thailand's 3.78 trillion baht 2570
At 9 a.m. on September 7, the House of Representatives met to debate the 2570 fiscal year budget bill, valued at 3.78 trillion baht, in its second and third readings after committee deliberation. Dr. Worng Detkitwitakorn, a list-based MP and Thai Pakdee Party leader, moved to cut the Section 4 budget by 10%, citing concerns that budget allocation would fuel corruption, insisting that graft exists in Thailand.
Worng reported receiving complaints from business operators that projects included in the white book, though technically in the first reading stage, had already received payments. He alleged that goods costing 100 baht at production were inflated to 300–400 baht in the budget documents, with a mandatory 30% government payment, while how the government uses those funds remains unclear. He added that 30% of costs are earmarked for various informal payments.
"Items priced at 300–400 baht when production costs only 100 baht, with 30% going out—the real concern is that government project funding poses dangers," Worng stated. "What troubles me most is that 1.4 trillion baht in bank loans has disappeared from the system, linked to gray money, gambling proceeds, bribes, under-the-table payments, and politician vote-buying. The committee has either discussed this or let it fester, and if so, the country will not survive," he concluded.
