Bangkok: The final day of the 69th budget debate was notably quiet, with no ministers present during the morning session. This absence followed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s remarks advocating for the Ministry of Interior to return under the Pheu Thai Party’s control. The debate, chaired by House Speaker Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, focused on the fiscal year 2026 draft bill, totaling 3.78 trillion baht. Despite the absence of ministers from parties such as Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, and Klatham, Ms. Sudawan Wangsupakitchkosol, the Minister of Culture, was the sole minister seen entering the parliament building.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Lau Fang Bandit Thetsakul, an MP from the Prachachon Party, criticized the current land allocation strategies, emphasizing the need for clear land reform based on individual rights. He highlighted that the government’s existing approach, which permits use of national forest reserves for community farmland, was flawed and suggested issuing title deeds based on factual verification. Mr. Lau Fang identified three distinct groups affected by overlapping land claims and advocated for tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all policy.

Further highlighting budgetary concerns, Mr. Lau Fang noted that the Royal Forest Department and National Park Department were allocated a budget of 692 million baht for land remediation. However, only 34 percent of this budget was used for its intended purpose, with the rest diverted to unrelated activities. He stressed the importance of completing the One Map project and developing modern technological tools to enhance transparency and efficiency in land management.

Mr. Lau Fang proposed reallocating the budget to focus on essential missions, particularly the preparation of boundary maps and name lists for individuals and communities. He criticized the inclusion of unrelated activities in the budget, which he deemed wasteful, and called for a halt to unnecessary projects imposed on villagers.

The MP also addressed the precarious state of land reform projects, which cover 5.5 million rai across Sor Por Kor areas, self-help settlements, and cooperative settlements. Despite existing laws, these projects lack ongoing policy support and remain incomplete under the TCDC model. Mr. Lau Fang criticized the minimal budget allocation for these areas, urging the government to abandon the TCDC model and adhere to legal frameworks to finalize land reforms effectively.