Bangkok: Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed a 10% cut to the transportation budget, arguing that policies and projects are not aligned with the 2027 budget.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, a Member of Parliament from the Democrat Party (list proportional representation), debated Article 15 of the Ministry of Transport's budget during the House of Representatives' consideration of the draft budget bill for fiscal year 2027, totaling 3.788 trillion baht. He expressed concerns about the government's and the Ministry's performance, noting that the ministry frequently announces policies and projects, particularly through ministerial visits to various provinces. Importantly, he noted that these policies and projects do not align with the 2027 budget allocation.
In particular, the Land Bridge project, for which the Cabinet established a committee to study its feasibility alongside the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) project, faced numerous objections regarding its cost-effectiveness and environmental impact. While the government acknowledged the concerns, it's surprising that this project is still included in the 2027 annual budget. This raises questions about why the majority of the committee still includes this project despite the widespread opposition. Clarification is needed: was it delayed because there wasn't enough time to cut it, or is it a deliberate move to proceed with it? The committee should explain the extent to which project approvals reflected the government's stated intentions and marketing claims. Otherwise, the opposition's previous arguments will appear to favor only certain groups of investors or contractors. This is a crucial issue.
"Regarding transportation, it's a crucial issue. I want the government to have a clear plan and allocate the budget accordingly, not just allocate funds to favor certain business groups and for campaigning purposes. Vote buying is bad enough, but now there's the phenomenon of vote blackmail, where people are saying that candidates must elect their specific MPs throughout the entire province to secure certain projects," said Mr. Abhisit.