Bangkok: Wirot Lakkhanaadisorn, a party-list MP for the Prachachon Party, has raised concerns over the budget allocation for the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Highways, highlighting the need for reform in contractor classification to prevent corruption and save taxpayer money.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wirot detailed the financial mismanagement within the departments, pointing out that between 2017 and 2023, over 95 road construction projects valued at 73 billion baht resulted in minimal savings. He cited specific examples, such as project number 4140, where the savings amounted to only 0.01% of the budget. Wirot stressed that this inefficiency is primarily due to the monopoly held by a limited number of “special class contractors.”

The issue, as Wirot explained, stems from the current contractor classification criteria, which he argues fosters bid collusion and kickbacks. He noted that during the government of former Prime Minister Mr. Settha Thavisin, efforts were made to expand the pool of eligible contractors by including Class 1A contractors, but these efforts were met with resistance from the departments involved.

Wirot emphasized the urgent need to revise these criteria to allow greater competition from Class 1A contractors, citing the Highway No. 118 project as an example where dividing contracts could lead to substantial budget savings. He also highlighted past instances where first-class contractors achieved significantly higher savings compared to their special-class counterparts.

The MP further underscored the economic impact of these practices, including construction delays and increased risks for the public due to abandoned projects. He argued that the funds lost to corruption could be redirected to initiatives like the promotion of a common ticket system for public transport, benefiting the wider population.

Wirot concluded by calling for immediate action from the Ministry of Transport to amend the contractor classification criteria, warning that failure to do so would perpetuate corruption and betray taxpayer trust. He asserted that accepting the current budget without addressing these issues would constitute complicity in corruption within the government.