MPs reap millions in project funding

32 billion baht budget set aside for pet plans
18/08/2010

MPs will be granted access to between 25 million and 40 million baht each from next year's budget bill to fund pet projects - despite the funding system being scrapped when the 1997 charter took effect.

The budget bill will be debated in its second and third readings in the lower house from today to Friday.

A source in the lower house said yesterday the house committee scrutinising the bill had cut the 2.07 trillion baht budget for certain agencies during the first reading and made available a 32 billion baht fund for MPs.

About 19 billion baht of the 32 billion baht had been earmarked for MPs' development projects, while the rest had been allocated to the Office of the Prime Minister, the source said.

All MPs would be invited to propose projects for their constituencies which would be funded by the budget, the source said. Most MPs could eventually receive from 25 million to 40 million baht.

The budget for the MPs' projects would not be allocated directly through each MP as happened in the past because the present constitution bans members of parliament from directly receiving development funds for their constituencies.

The money will be channelled through government agencies.

In addition to the funds for MPs, the bill has a fund to encourage the public to protect the royal institution and for national reconciliation. The budget earmarked for this plan is about 232 million baht, which would be shared between security agencies.

The Royal Thai Police Office would receive most money from the fund, or about 54 million baht.

The Provincial Administration Department would also receive a big share at 40 million baht.

The army would receive 30 million baht and the National Security Council would receive 25 million baht.

Other agencies with access to the fund are the PM's Office, the navy, the Supreme Command, the air force, the Office of the Permanent Secretary for the Interior and the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Justice.

The House is expected to vote on the bill on Friday.

Almost 2.04 trillion baht of the 2.07 trillion baht budget has been earmarked for government agencies and state enterprises. The other 266 billion baht has been set aside as a central budget under the supervision of the Finance Ministry and the Budget Bureau.

Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri said the budget would be distributed equally among all areas in the country.

The economy in small provinces would have a chance to expand as much as larger provinces.

The government-proposed budget deficit for next fiscal year, which starts on Oct 1, is 4.1% of gross domestic product.

Bangkok University Research Centre has surveyed economists with 24 leading firms on what they think of the 2011 budget bill.

The survey, conducted from Aug5 to Aug 9, found 85% of economists agreed with the government's decision to run a budget deficit.

The opposition Puea Thai Party has vowed to stop the passage of the 2011 budget bill.

Chief opposition whip Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday the opposition party had found irregularities in the bill, especially concerning the 346billion baht Thai Khem Khaeng stimulus programme, after discussing the matter with representatives of agencies such as the Comptroller-General's Department and the Budget Bureau.

Mr Witthaya said the opposition would insist on not voting on the bill if it did not receive a clear clarification from the government during the three days of debate.

A team of more than 80 Puea Thai MPs would spend three days questioning details of the bill to convince other MPs to support the opposition.

The coalition parties, Bhumjaithai and Puea Pandin, have vowed their MPs would throw their support behind the bill.

Boonjong Wongtrairat, a core leader of Bhumjaithai, said the party's 52 MPs would vote to pass the bill. Puea Pandin spokesman Alongkot Maneekas also said his party had resolved that all 24 of its MPs would vote for the bill.

bangkokpost.com