Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has challenged the opposition to produce evidence of the corruption they allege is rife in Government infrastructure mega projects, such as the electric trains, assuring that his government is ready to deal harshly with any the corrupt officials and politicians.
Speaking in defence of the budget bill in parliament, on the second day of the debate today (Friday), the Prime Minister admitted that he had also heard reports of graft, but claimed he didn’t have the evidence needed to take legal action.
He said that he switched on the television in his car this morning and heard an Opposition MP talking about illegal casinos and he suggested that, next time, the MP should not just take photos of the casinos but should file a report with the police.
“I returned home at 1am and got to bed at 2.30am this morning and I could still hear you speaking, it’s in my head. I wish to inform you that I am aware of your complaint,” said the Prime Minister.
Regarding the Opposition’s accusation that his government has borrowed more than previous governments, the Prime Minister said that he had checked the records and found that his government’s borrowings are less than those of previous administrations.
He cited the case of a previous government, which was forbidden by the International Monetary Fund from enacting a deficit budget, because it was not able to service the debt at the time the government was indebted to the IMF.
Asked about Opposition leader Sompong Amornvivat’s call for the government to withdraw the budget bill for changes, he retorted saying “Can he (Sompong) give that order?”
