Opposition Slams 40-Baht Curry Rice Plan as PR Stunt
An opposition MP criticized the government's 40-baht curry rice initiative as a publicity stunt, arguing the price reduction is negligible since vendors already offer similar meals at that cost and only a limited number of people would bene
At 1:20 p.m. on July 13 at Parliament, Sirikanya Tansakul, a list-based MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, commented on Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Sutthamnaphansai's 40-baht curry rice program, saying the price point does not appeal to her because the reduction is minimal—curry rice already costs 40-50 baht at normal vendors. She emphasized that each Commerce Ministry program reaches only a concentrated and limited group of beneficiaries.
Tansakul expressed concern about how many people would actually benefit from such a program, comparing it to earlier initiatives like the Blue Flag Project or community vehicles. With limited budgets, only a few locations can be reached, leaving very few genuine beneficiaries. She characterized the program as a publicity campaign rather than a serious effort to address people's economic hardship.
When asked about the opposition's view of the minister's work following online calls for her to be more visible, Tansakul said she understands ministers need not appear in the media constantly, but they do have a duty to communicate policies and program results. She noted that she herself rarely communicates through social media and joked that someday missing persons might be tracked down the same way.
