The House of Representatives discussed the budget for additional 122 billion baht in handouts.

Parliament, The House of Representatives discussed the budget to distribute an additional 122 billion baht. Pichai emphasized using the budget with value for money to stimulate the economy for maximum benefit. Reporters reported that the House of Representatives meeting, chaired by Mr. Padipat Santipada, First Deputy Speaker of the House, considered the agenda for the consideration of the draft bill (Bill) on additional expenditures for fiscal year 2024, readings 2 and 3, with a budget of 122 billion baht, which will be used for the digital wallet project, which the special committee has already considered. Mr. Pichai Chunhavijorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as the chairman of the committee, proposed the draft that the special committee began considering the draft bill on July 19, 2024 and completed it on July 25, 2024. They jointly considered details of the central budget for spending to stimulate the economy in order to create strength, totaling 122 billion baht. The special committee focused on the results that people will receive from spending the budget to stimulate the economy by promoting money circulation in various areas and helping to alleviate the cost of living, improving the quality of life, creating opportunities for careers and people, along with maintaining the level of domestic consumption and investment, including the country's competitiveness through the digital wallet project, which takes into account the consistency with the economic situation. There is a proposal for the government to use the budget with value, stimulate the economy to create maximum benefit, and take care of the supervision measures to be in line with the project's objectives, including safety measures for protecting personal data. 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the special committee members who have given importance, sacrificed their time and cooperated in considering the additional budget bill for fiscal year 2024 B.E. … to the fullest extent so that it can be successfully compl eted. Therefore, I would like to thank the heads of budget units and all relevant agencies for their cooperation in explaining the details and preparing documents for the special committee members. Finally, I and the special committee members are pleased and ready to answer the questions of the honorable members in each section. Thank you,' said Mr. Pichai. Then there was a discussion by the committee and the amendments asking for opinions on a section-by-section basis. Reporters reported that the overall picture of today's debate was mostly about the amendment of the budget reduction by 10%, 20%, but it was noted that Article 3 was requested by Mr. Woraphop Wiriyaroj, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, and Mr. Pris Wacharasindhu, MPs of the Move Forward Party, who requested the amendment to reduce the budget to 1 baht, causing people to watch whether the amendment was for fun or for benefits. The reporter asked Ms. Rakchanok, who admitted that she had indeed amended the resolution, but would not debate it. She had ame nded it in case she wanted to talk about it, but she did not. Many people had already talked about it. Source: Thai News Agency