Bangkok: The Treasury Department has disclosed that Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom, a former Member of Parliament and the current leader of the Thai Bhakdi Party, withdrew nearly 2 million baht from his MP allowance before advocating for its cancellation. This revelation comes amidst Dr. Warong's recent calls for the abolition of various benefits and privileges currently enjoyed by Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators.

According to Thai News Agency, information has surfaced indicating that Dr. Warong received millions in pension funds from the Ministry of Finance after he publicly pushed for the termination of pension and medical assistance benefits for MPs and Senators. Dr. Warong, who served as an MP for Phitsanulok Province across three terms totaling nearly seven years, is eligible to claim benefits for a period when he was not serving as an MP, spanning over a decade.

Dr. Warong's financial entitlements included monthly living expenses as per the Fund Committee Regulations, amounting to a total of 1,974,408.05 baht over several years. These payments were made at different rates and during specific periods when he was not holding office. Additionally, Dr. Warong received medical assistance totaling 11,474 baht in 2014, bringing the total funds utilized from public taxes to 1,985,882.05 baht.

The Secretariat of the Parliament has halted Dr. Warong's living allowance payments since February 8, 2016, as he resumed his role as an MP. These developments have sparked discussions about the transparency and accountability of public funds usage, given Dr. Warong's stance on reducing parliamentary privileges.