PEOPLE’S Party MP Sirikanya Tansakul said during the debate on Pheu Thai-led coalition government’s policy statement delivered by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra that a lot of what was announced differed from what Pheu Thai Party had promised during the election campaign while being similar to de facto party boss Thaksin Shinawatra’s recently outlined vision, Amarin TV said last evening (Sep. 12).
Overall the policy statement is no different from that of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin with the scope being broad and goals unclear, she said, while pointing to one difference and that is there is no mention of the 10,000 baht digital wallet project with the government asked whether it is still carrying it out.
Of the 14 issues Thaksin had mentioned during his speech on Aug. 22, 11 were repeated in the policy statement including distributing the much-heralded, yet-delayed 10,000 baht digital wallet to the “fragile groups” first.
Many issues seem to have been recycled from Pheu Thai’s previous guise, Thai Rak Thai Party which Thaksin founded in 1998 with himself being elected prime minister until he was deposed in the 2006 coup and escaped abroad.
This is not just consistent but is like AAA+ level of Miller’s Pyramid of Assessment, Sirikanya said.
“This is not a matter of domination but responsibility, and in future cabinet meetings may just be a ritual because important matters may have been decided by others,” she said.
The People’s Party MP added that she wants a prime minister who shines in her own light, like a star not a planet, and not like the moon that shines with the light from the sun.
Later Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said that the first round of 10,000 baht digital wallet handout will be reaching 14.2 million “fragile groups” of people on Sep. 25 with a total of 140 billion baht flowing out.
As the Thai economic growth has slowed over the past five years, if nothing is done it could potentially weaken even further, he said, adding that in order to solve the problem the country has to be in a state of recovery first and then build on from there.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivering her coalition government’s policy statement at Parliament, right, and People’s Party MP Sirikanya Tansakul giving her speech last evening, left.
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira speaking during the coalition government’s policy statement debate yesterday, Sep. 12, 2024. Both photos: Amarin TV
Also read: People’s Party MPs preparing for heated debate on govt policy statement
Thammanat denies being involved with leaked audio clip
Thammanat-led renegade MPs won’t be ousted from Palang Pracharath
Chiang Rai airport cancels all flights as floods rage
Police, FDA bust illegal drug, lip balm factory
Foreigner high on marijuana steals, crashes cab
