Bangkok: Dr. Premsak Piayura, a member of parliament, has publicly called on the headmaster to advise the new minister on constructive political practices amid allegations of a 40 million baht bribe. Dr. Premsak urged that ministers should take responsibility for their actions and not simply take credit while blaming others. He is preparing a second inquiry following the minister’s absence during a Senate session.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Premsak revealed at a press conference that Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob had previously admitted to offering a 40 million baht bribe to prevent action against illegal activities such as call center scams and gambling websites. Dr. Premsak submitted an oral question to the Senate, seeking the minister’s response, but was informed of the minister’s unavailability due to other commitments. This absence was not exclusive to his inquiry, as no ministers responded to three other questions, contradicting their stated readiness to cooperate with the Senate.
Dr. Premsak expressed a desire to question the minister outside of Parliament, emphasizing the need for public accountability. He urged the Minister of Digital Economy to disclose the identity of the bribe proposer and questioned the delay in filing a police report. He argued that failure to report the bribe to authorities constituted a dereliction of duty and stressed the importance of transparency and public safety.
Further, Dr. Premsak questioned the appointment of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy to investigate the matter, doubting any permanent secretary would dare to probe a minister or a ruling party member. He emphasized the need for swift justice against those involved in the bribe, citing the significant damage caused by such corruption.
Dr. Premsak reiterated the urgency of establishing a timeframe to tackle online fraud and sought clarity on whether similar corruption had previously occurred within the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. He emphasized that consistent inaction would only serve as a reminder of unkept promises.
Additionally, Dr. Premsak urged the headmaster to guide new ministers in establishing positive political norms rather than adhering to outdated practices of self-credit and blame-shifting. He highlighted the need for ministers to set a precedent against corruption and assured continued discussion with the Senate ICT Committee to pursue further action. Dr. Premsak committed to addressing the Digital Economy and Society Minister with further questions on this pressing issue.