The Pheu Thai and Prachachon parties debated policies to block illicit money flowing into the system. Veerayut stressed that the public should not let the matter be forgotten and must track the investigation results regarding large cash withdrawals during the election period.
On 30 Jan 2026, the final stretch of the 2026 election, the debate program "One More Debate with Thairath Election 69" hosted by Kai Pongsakem reopened the stage for a final showdown among representatives from each political party before the 2026 election.
In the final segment, the host asked Mr. Paophum Rojanasakul, deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, and Dr. Veerayut Kanjuchat, prime ministerial candidate for the Prachachon Party, about the Bank of Thailand Governor's revelation concerning significant cash withdrawals during the election, especially large amounts of 500 and 100 baht banknotes, and how the government should respond.
Mr. Paophum said that cooperation is needed among three parties: the Bank of Thailand, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. He emphasized that the Bank of Thailand is addressing the broader issue of illicit funds, which goes beyond just cash withdrawals but is related. The problem is the opacity of money flows. They must examine the policy dimensions of large cash withdrawals—why such amounts are withdrawn, and if it exceeds certain thresholds like 3 to 5 million baht, they must investigate the purpose.
He added that large amounts of foreign currency exchanges must also be checked to determine their source and purpose. Regarding cryptocurrencies like USDT, he noted that about half of the traders are foreigners, so they need to understand what's happening. This issue requires the Bank of Thailand to work closely with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to implement proper procedures. The Ministry of Finance must also coordinate with the Bank of Thailand to tackle the opacity problem collaboratively.
Dr. Veerayut said that withdrawals at this scale clearly indicate suspicious activity. Ideally, banknote serial numbers should be tested. Importantly, the Bank of Thailand Governor stated that the matter has been forwarded to the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Election Commission. Therefore, everyone should monitor how the Election Commission addresses this issue. He believes it won’t end with this batch alone, as this election involves large sums, possibly billions or tens of billions of baht, potentially from multiple sources. Hence, this is an opportunity to closely watch cash withdrawals, especially at commercial and smaller banks, which must report back to the Bank of Thailand.
He concluded that the Bank of Thailand Governor’s revelation is positive as it encourages public disclosure and follow-up on such withdrawals. It is crucial to see how the Election Commission or the Anti-Money Laundering Office proceed with this matter, since the identities and quantities of banknotes are known. The issue must not be allowed to fade away, and attention should remain on developments in the final week.