Sirikunnya Defends Pawut Over TH-AI Passport Pause
Pheu Thai MP Sirikunnya defended colleague Pawut's refusal to discuss the TH-AI Passport project, saying he lacks close involvement and is preoccupied with legal cases rather than fearing compromise of other matters.
At 9:30 a.m. on July 24, 2025, at Parliament, Sirikunnya Tansukul, a Pheu Thai party list MP and deputy party leader, addressed the case of Pawut Pongsawittayaphanyu, a fellow Pheu Thai list MP, who declined to participate in an interview, saying he was unable to discuss the TH-AI Passport project due to lack of close involvement and concerns about jeopardizing a Forex-related case.
Sirikunnya clarified that Pawut was not actually refusing to discuss the matter out of fear of compromising the Forex case—that explanation appeared to have been added later. She said Pawut simply stated he was not closely following the issue at this time and referred inquiries to Ratchanok Srinork, another party list MP, who is actively tracking the project. Sirikunnya attributed Pawut's absence from the follow-up to the toll of multiple lawsuits requiring him to focus on legal defense.
Sirikunnya added that the Pheu Thai party continues its investigation through parliamentary committee mechanisms, including the budget oversight committee and the legal affairs and human rights committee, which have already sent letters to various agencies requesting further inquiry and investigation into the matter. She indicated that developments are likely to continue.
