The government’s controversial digital wallet scheme is facing increasing opposition, with opponents seeking intervention from the Central Administrative Court, the Election Commission, the Office of Auditor-General and the Ombudsman to put the scheme on hold.
Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom filed a complaint with the Auditor-General’s Office yesterday (Wednesday), asking for a probe into the digital wallet scheme before submitting its findings to the Administrative Court to seek the scheme’s suspension.
Claiming that the scheme will cause extensive damage to the economy, Dr Warong questions why the government does not provide the Bt10,000 benefit in the form of cash, instead of digital tokens, which is too complicated for the people in general and will not benefit small retail outlets because they normally do not have significant cash reserves and they prefer payment in cash.
He said that retailers who take the digital tokens as a means of payment will have to wait for six months before they can be exchanged for cash and, if they want the cash sooner, they will have to sell the tokens to unscrupulous business people seeking to launder their ill-gotten gains.
Dr Warong noted that even the Bank of Thailand is hesitant to use digital tokens, until after its trial use, to make sure that it is safe and acceptable.
Meanwhile, former senator and political activist Rosana Tositrakul submitted a petition to the Election Commission today, also asking for a probe into the digital wallet scheme. Earlier, a similar petition was lodged with the Office of Auditor-General.
Rosana cited several reasons to support her argument to have the controversial scheme suspended or scrapped. She argues that the scheme is not worth the Bt560 billion it will cost, it may violate the Currency Act and may incur unnecessary expense, because the blockchain technology to be used for the scheme will require significant investment.
The scheme flies in the face of good financial discipline principles and will increase public debt, she said, adding that it may curry favour among the next generation of young voters who may end up voting for the scheme’s champion, the Pheu Thai party.
The government, however, appears unperturbed by the opposition to the scheme, as it insists on implementing it, albeit with some adjustments.
