Bangkok: Bhumjaithai Party spokesperson, Ms. Nan Boonthida Somchai, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the 157 billion baht economic stimulus budget, emphasizing that the allocation and distribution of funds depend on the decision of the approving minister. This statement comes in response to comments made by Mr. Decha Isara Khaothong, Deputy Minister of Interior, regarding the concentration of funds in certain areas.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Nan questioned the intention behind Mr. Decha’s remarks, suggesting that the comments implied an attack on the Bhumjaithai Party. She highlighted that the budget approval process involves multiple agencies such as Transport, Water Resources, and Irrigation, and that no specific requests for budget amounts had been made by any agency. Ms. Nan stressed that it is the responsibility of the minister to decide on the concentration or distribution of funds.

Ms. Nan expressed confusion over the complaints about budget allocation, pointing out that the minister, being part of the decision-making process, had the authority to approve the allocations as desired. She questioned why the minister did not approve the funds as they intended and remarked on the vague nature of the criticisms directed towards the Bhumjaithai Party. Ms. Nan reiterated the party’s anticipation of the budget’s role as a real economic stimulus, given the public’s expectations following previous disappointments.

The Bhumjaithai Party spokesperson clarified that local governments had submitted budget requests to the Cabinet via the Budget Bureau, and that the 157 billion baht economic stimulus budget falls under the Cabinet’s authority, not the Council’s. Ms. Nan also raised concerns about the allocation of the first 110 billion baht, questioning whether the concentration on transportation, water resources, irrigation, and agricultural areas was justified.

Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Secretary-General of the Bhumjaithai Party, further commented on the situation, suggesting that the budget allocation appears to favor the ministry of the Pheu Thai Party. He called for an investigation into the actual facts rather than focusing solely on numerical allocations.