Bangkok: Political observer Thepthai Senpong has advised Chaiyanok Chidchob to retract his support for the AI passport project, warning of potential destabilization within the current government. Thepthai made this suggestion in a social media post, indicating that the project may have underlying issues that require further scrutiny.
According to Thai News Agency, the suggestion comes after public hearings and QandA sessions organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. These sessions saw significant participation from citizens and experts in the IT field, who raised numerous questions about the TH-AI Passport project. The Permanent Secretary of the DE Ministry led the event, aiming to gather public feedback.
During these sessions, Minister Chaiyanok Chidchob, along with Deputy Minister Nan Bunthida Somchai and Interior Deputy Minister Jetseth Thaiseth, faced inquiries about their connections to the winning bidder of the AI passport project. Chaiyanok acknowledged his acquaintance with the bidder, prompting concerns about the fairness of the bidding process. Questions arose about the feasibility of bidders completing proposals for a 1.6 billion baht project in just 30 days without prior knowledge or connections.
Thepthai's concerns highlight the potential for investigation into whether the winning bidder received undue advantage. The possibility of manipulated Terms of Reference to exclude competitors has also been suggested. These suspicions may lead to further scrutiny by the Budget Monitoring Committee and possibly a no-confidence motion in parliament.
If the government survives such a motion, the opposition may take the issue to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Should the NACC find evidence of corruption, a lawsuit could be filed with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
Despite the contract's signing and the Permanent Secretary's assertion that amendments are not possible, public sentiment and credibility issues pose significant challenges to the project's continuation. Minister Chaiyanok appears to be deliberating on whether to proceed.
Thepthai, as an independent political analyst, suggests that if public trust is lacking, the project should be reconsidered, even if already signed. He believes a compromise could be reached to maintain government stability. However, insisting on moving forward with the project may lead to further erosion of trust and potential destabilization of the "blue regime."