By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER Anutin Charnvirakul was today (June 15) taken to task for not trying to put an end to controversy over the TH-AI Passport project launched by Digital Economy & Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob only because the latter is a son of the former’s boss, namely de facto Bhumajaithai boss Newin Chidchob.
People’s MP Rukchanok Srinork charged that Anutin, who concurrently acts as leader of the Bhumjaithai, currently core of the coalition government steered behind the scenes by the de facto party boss, has not yet done anything toward the disputable, 1.6 billion baht AI project alleged to be a government scheme riddled with cronyism in undue favour of a certain firm surreptitiously associated with the Bhumjaithai, since the digital economy & society minister, who concurrently acts as the ruling party’s secretary-general and has been pushing for it is the de facto party boss’s son.
“Anutin has put brakes on several government projects such as the southern land bridge project and state welfare card project. But he has remained tightlipped over this controversial AI project. Does he simply not dare do anything to his boss’s son?,” Rukchanok sarcastically questioned, referring to the de facto Bhumjaithai boss.
The People’s MP confirmed that she will file a lawsuit to the National Anti-Corruption Commission against those involved in the questionable AI project if it gets started with registration of applicants as soon as early next month with the accused being likely to include Chaichanok and Digital Economy & Society Undersecretary Patchara Anuntasilpa, among others. Rukchanok alleged that the AI project would probably showcase “systematic malfeasance” perpetrated by the winning private contractor and certain government officials, among others.
People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut suggested that the Bhumjaithai-attached prime minister provide more funding for Thailand’s innovation industry and promote digital technology skill development among entrepreneurs and others rather than purchase AI technologies from abroad with the taxpayer’s money.
People’s MP Pawut Pongwithayapanu advised that a purchase of the foreign-based AI be no longer done via a private firm and instead be processed on a government-to-government basis and that an international firm dealing in digital technology for business innovation be promoted to set up a research & development centre in Thailand, given BoI privileges.
CAPTION:
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Above photo – Amarin TV, Front Page – Naewna
Insert – An image of People’s MP Rukchanok Srinork overlaid on another image showing this camp’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut at Parliament. Photo – Naewna
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