Tawee Solicits Input on Land Bridge Project, Insists on No Development Obstruction but Benefits Must Reach the Public

On May 5, 2569, reporters noted that on May 4, Police Major General Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, chaired party discussions in both executive forum and online formats, joined by parliamentary advisors, business leaders, and various sector representatives to set policy direction.

The key issue centered on the government's Land Bridge megaproject worth over one trillion baht, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister.

Tawee stated that the Palang Pracharath Party does not oppose large-scale infrastructure development and acknowledges the Land Bridge project's strategic necessity.

"We affirm that we are not obstructing any development, but a project of this magnitude must ensure benefits reach the people, not just a handful of private companies. If the project's feasibility study is incomplete and lacks sufficient empirical data for trillion-baht investment, development must undergo careful scrutiny because it has long-term impacts on the country," Tawee said.

Tawee cited the example of Malaysia's ECRL railway project, which used approximately 600 billion baht in budget but created a network spanning over 600 kilometers, while Thailand's Land Bridge costs more with significantly shorter distance, raising questions about value for money. He also expressed concern about the long-term concession structure that may concentrate benefits among large private entities.

Tawee warned of lessons from the EEC project where land was purchased in advance, causing prices to skyrocket, cautioning against land speculation that deprives the public of development benefits.

Another crucial issue is granting a 99-year concession to private entities—50 years initially with a 49-year renewal option—which may impact sovereignty and rule of law without clear conditions. The better approach is for the state to maintain control of core infrastructure and establish strict regulations.

Tawee proposed that national development must not leave the public behind and should proceed alongside welfare policies such as senior pensions of 3,000 baht, free education through bachelor's degree, and windfall profit tax to return state project gains to the people.

Tawee stated that the Palang Pracharath Party will push the Land Bridge project as an important parliamentary agenda to monitor, inspect, and ensure transparency at every stage.

"Land Bridge will only be meaningful if all Thai people truly benefit, not just GDP figures or profits for a few companies. This is the country's critical question: will we choose development for everyone or concentrated growth?" Tawee said.

Rungrueang Thipsirichai, head of the Palang Pracharath Party's economic team, stated that considering the Land Bridge project requires real figures and examining whether project returns and potential are genuinely viable, not fabricated numbers.

Rungrueang noted that Ranong Port has potential but requires additional investment for deep-sea port development. Chumphon Port still focuses on agricultural goods, which may be insufficient for heavy industry, making return on investment a significant question.

Suliman Buanabina, Yala MP from the Palang Pracharath Party and former Land Bridge committee member, stated that the region has clearly divergent views. Chambers of commerce may support it, but many farming and fishing communities remain concerned about environmental and project impacts.

Additionally, the Land Bridge project faces concerns about dredging approximately 6,900 rai of seabed and impacts on natural resources.