Pithakdech, Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee of the House of Representatives, revealed plans to summon the Ministry of Digital Economy, Comptroller General's Department, and AMLO to explain the TH-AI Passport project, budgeted at 1.6 billion baht, on 4 June amid concerns over transparency and risks of conflicts of interest.
At 14:30 on 29 May 2026 at the parliament, Mr. Pithakdech Dechdecho, as chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering and Narcotics Suppression Committee of the House of Representatives, announced the monitoring and review of the TH-AI Passport project worth 1.6 billion baht following concerns about transparency in its execution. He noted that following parliamentary debates and questions about the project—which aims to promote public access to AI—observations arose from MPs and related sectors regarding the project's approval process, pricing benchmarks, procurement, and its connections. The committee views these matters as of public interest relating to governance principles and transparency in government procurement, including financial tracking and potential conflicts of interest risks. Therefore, the matter will be included in the committee's agenda.
Mr. Pithakdech stated that he will send invitations to relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), the Comptroller General's Department, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to provide factual clarifications to the committee, aiming for transparency for the public's benefit on 4 June.
He also emphasized that these actions are not intended to infringe upon any agency's authority but are carried out according to constitutional provisions and parliamentary rules to monitor, review, and propose measures to prevent harm to the state and citizens. He affirmed that the committee will conduct its review impartially and transparently, based on evidence, to build public trust in the accountability and transparency of state budget usage.
When asked whether the Digital Economy Minister would be summoned, Mr. Pithakdech said invitations will be sent to the Ministry of Digital Economy as well as the Comptroller General's Department to examine project origins, pricing benchmarks, and procurement details, especially to clarify ambiguous points raised in parliamentary questions.
Regarding whether private companies involved in the news would be invited to provide information to the committee, Mr. Pithakdech said they will first summon relevant agencies, as permitted by the committee’s authority, to inquire about procurement regulations and whether terms of reference were drafted and how.
Asked if there are any suspicions about the private companies, given their previous government contract awards, Mr. Pithakdech said the focus will be on the source of regulations and whether the terms of reference were tailored to favor certain specifications. Issues concerning the companies themselves will be addressed later. There are welfare concerns, but the committee must operate within its authority first.