ID :
180202
Thu, 05/05/2011 - 14:46
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http://m.oananews.org//node/180202
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Pheu Thai Party doubtful of cabinet allocation of Bt150bn
BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) - Pheu Thai MPs have pointed to the last cabinet meeting which continued for as long as 15 hours and allocated over 150 billion baht for many projects including several doubtful projects and weaponry purchases.
Pheu Thai list MP Wiroon Techapaibul said the 15-hour-long cabinet meeting last Tuesday allocated budgets to woo voters’ support. He cited the Commerce Ministry receiving as much as 169 million baht for its project to supply cheap consumer products to people. The ministry is required to use up the extra budget within 90 days.
Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok Wicharn Meenchainant said the 150-billion-baht budgets included many long-term commitments, especially the allocations to weaponry purchases through special forms of contracting that avoid open bidding contests. He said that the practice of allocating 150 billion baht in a 15-hour meeting was inappropriate as it was tantamount to allocating 100 million baht per minute.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied that the last cabinet meeting rushed the huge budgetary allocation. He said that resolutions on some budgets were only follow-ups of previously approved projects. He explained that the huge budget included over 4 billion baht for the returns of medical personnel, over 3 billion baht for the organization of the next election and other budgets worth billions of baht for disaster compensation and border issues.
The prime minister said that his government had to approve spending for many projects because the present constitution prohibited the government from approving any work or project that would commit the next government after House dissolution. He explained that some projects and missions of the national interest had to proceed. Unless his government approved their spending, they would have to seek the consent of the Election Commission and that would be an unnecessary complication.
In response to the criticism that his government allocated a huge budget to the Army, Mr Abhisit said that the Army needed more ammunitions as it used a number of them in past clashes with Cambodia. He said an Army tank project is an old purchase and the cabinet is obliged to allocate another portion of money for the procurement anyway. (TNA)
Pheu Thai list MP Wiroon Techapaibul said the 15-hour-long cabinet meeting last Tuesday allocated budgets to woo voters’ support. He cited the Commerce Ministry receiving as much as 169 million baht for its project to supply cheap consumer products to people. The ministry is required to use up the extra budget within 90 days.
Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok Wicharn Meenchainant said the 150-billion-baht budgets included many long-term commitments, especially the allocations to weaponry purchases through special forms of contracting that avoid open bidding contests. He said that the practice of allocating 150 billion baht in a 15-hour meeting was inappropriate as it was tantamount to allocating 100 million baht per minute.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied that the last cabinet meeting rushed the huge budgetary allocation. He said that resolutions on some budgets were only follow-ups of previously approved projects. He explained that the huge budget included over 4 billion baht for the returns of medical personnel, over 3 billion baht for the organization of the next election and other budgets worth billions of baht for disaster compensation and border issues.
The prime minister said that his government had to approve spending for many projects because the present constitution prohibited the government from approving any work or project that would commit the next government after House dissolution. He explained that some projects and missions of the national interest had to proceed. Unless his government approved their spending, they would have to seek the consent of the Election Commission and that would be an unnecessary complication.
In response to the criticism that his government allocated a huge budget to the Army, Mr Abhisit said that the Army needed more ammunitions as it used a number of them in past clashes with Cambodia. He said an Army tank project is an old purchase and the cabinet is obliged to allocate another portion of money for the procurement anyway. (TNA)
