The opposition urges the Cabinet to pass a resolution confirming the Clean Air Bill on 5 May, hoping the government will consider the lungs of the Thai people and support the bill in Parliament without neglecting the issue.
On 30 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Parit Watcharasinthu, party-list MP of the Prachachon Party, speaking as a representative of the opposition coalition, said after receiving a letter from the Clean Air Civil Society Network that the opposition is fully committed to using all mechanisms to advance the Clean Air Bill, which remains pending in the previous parliamentary session, so it can proceed and be enforced nationwide.
The process to advance the Clean Air Bill involves two main steps: first, the Cabinet must pass a resolution confirming the bill can proceed before 12 May 2026 GMT+7, which is 60 days after the first parliamentary session. The opposition will closely monitor the Cabinet's resolution, understanding that the Cabinet is expected to decide at its meeting on 5 May 2026 GMT+7.
Furthermore, the opposition has invited representatives from the Office of the Secretariat of the Cabinet to attend a parallel meeting with the opposition's whip team on the morning of that day. If the Cabinet passes any resolution that the opposition agrees with, they are ready to support it. However, if no confirming resolution emerges on 5 May 2026 GMT+7, the opposition will question the reasons during the meeting, offer recommendations for reconsideration, and seek a resolution before 12 May 2026 GMT+7.
Mr. Parit added that if the Cabinet confirms the bill, it will proceed to a joint parliamentary session. The opposition needs 350 votes, and if coalition parties approve the bill, there will definitely be sufficient support. He hopes the government's decision will consider the health and lungs of all Thai people, as failure to proceed would be like abandoning work that many parties have pushed for years and discarding 26,500 citizen signatures. He hopes the government will not make such a decision.
However, even if the Clean Air Bill is enforced, our mission will not be complete. We want to see the government use tools from the bill to prepare for the next season, not waiting until problems arise but rather using preventive measures from the start, including budget allocation and reducing the sources of PM 2.5 dust. This is the opposition party's commitment to continue pushing for the people.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kandi Liewpairon, party-list MP of the Democrat Party, said that clean air is a critical issue. If we remain passive, the problem will not disappear. Action requires changes in both processes and appropriate technology to limit dust emissions from the outset. The opposition agrees that the Clean Air Bill must be advanced because the problem is not only physical dust but also concerns the future security of humanity and health, which impacts economic stability.