"Ice" threatens to file a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to block the 1.6 billion baht TH-AI Passport project, criticizing the public hearing for recruiting attendees by vanloads. Meanwhile, "Theerachat" exposes that the Terms of Reference (TOR) were copied across ministries and that live stream comments were disabled during the event.
On 12 June 2026, Rakchanok Srinok, party-list MP of the Prachachon Party and chair of the parliamentary committee on budget study and oversight, commented on the evaluation following the government’s public hearing on the TH-AI Passport project. She said the committee's firm stance has been to call for the immediate termination and cancellation of the project. She directly urged Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES), the policy maker, that regardless of whether the Permanent Secretary of DES claims authority to cancel the contract, the political leadership responsible for policy has the power to decide and direct civil servants. She questioned whether the minister wants to continue spending 1.6 billion baht on this project. Rakchanok believes the political leadership can decide and instruct the Permanent Secretary not to proceed with such a project. She suggested the minister could fold the project, pay a partial penalty to the private company, and return the remaining budget to the fund.
Rakchanok further stated that if the government genuinely intends to develop AI for the country, the project should be withdrawn from the fund’s budget and submitted through the regular budget process. This would allow proper scrutiny by the House of Representatives, including initial debate by MPs, careful review by the budget committee, and trimming of inappropriate budget items by the subcommittee. She said this approach would also be more honorable for the minister personally.
Rakchanok affirmed that no one intends to block the future of AI technology in the country. However, she questioned why, given the irregularities found throughout the handling of the 1.6 billion baht, the government insists on pushing this project forward.
Rakchanok also revealed irregularities during the seminar, describing the atmosphere as seemingly staged, with participants recruited to whitewash the project. The clearest evidence was that after the event, participants were gathered and returned together by rented vans, which is unusual behavior for those genuinely interested in AI technology. She suggested the public investigate the names of individuals who answered questions on stage that day to see if they have any links or conflicts of interest with companies owning digital concession contracts or nationwide billboard advertising. She asserted that such an investigation would undoubtedly uncover significant findings.
Regarding images released yesterday showing executives from Plan B attending the Chidchob family birthday party, followed by photos of Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leaders of the Future Forward Party, Rakchanok said that regardless of personal relationships within the party, the 100-plus MPs of the Prachachon Party remain committed to the same ideology: to thoroughly and straightforwardly audit the national budget without personal bias. She emphasized that even if individuals are relatives, close friends, schoolmates, or parents, any behavior involving misuse of public funds for corruption or favoritism would not be tolerated.
Rakchanok invited the public to consider whether MPs from other parties, with photos alongside former party leaders or spiritual guides, would be willing or brave enough to continue investigating non-transparency as firmly as Prachachon Party does. She confirmed that the party will persist in its scrutiny and warned, "You will definitely be found if you open registration and people register — a complaint to the NACC is certain."
Meanwhile, Theerachat Katatrakul, former party-list candidate for the Prachachon Party, said that yesterday’s event felt more like a press conference than a public hearing because even live stream comments were disabled. He suspected it was an attempt to whitewash the project. Questions posed were left unanswered, as the event appeared designed to limit speakers. He noted whispers among participants urging for others to ask questions and not monopolize the floor. He questioned why details about the 1.5 billion baht were not disclosed, calling this the most important aspect lacking answers. Neither the minister, the permanent secretary, nor those who previously briefed the budget oversight committee could explain this. He pointed out contradictory statements about token usage limits. He also echoed Rakchanok’s concern about the TOR being copied from another ministry, which he said should not have happened across ministries.
"The permanent secretary said projects like this should not happen again," Theerachat said, agreeing strongly that such projects should cease. He criticized the sloppy TOR design, for which the permanent secretary should be held accountable. He asked private companies whether cancellation was possible if problems arose, but the permanent secretary claimed he lacked authority to approve cancellation. He questioned whether the permanent secretary forgot that his authority ultimately belongs to the people who own the country. He criticized the disregard for TOR details as unacceptable for someone responsible for the country’s future. Theerachat said this.
Theerachat also noted that the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), a public organization under the Prime Minister’s Office, currently offers an AI application similar to the TH-AI Passport project, which the public can download and use for free. This OKMD project costs only 2.4 million baht, compared to TH-AI Passport’s 1.6 billion baht budget, yet lacks clear details. He said this shows the public need not wait years for bureaucratic systems to access AI technology.
When asked about yesterday’s inquiry by Kadee Liaopairoj, party-list MP for the Democrat Party, who suggested three options: revise, cancel, or proceed, Theerachat said the first step is already flawed, implying corruption. Society is being told the project is good and AI is beneficial, so why does the Prachachon Party block it? He emphasized they do not oppose AI or forbid public use, but they object to holding the public hostage to push through a corrupt project. He called this a wrong value system and said the accusation that the party opposes AI is incorrect. He expressed confusion about why such blatant actions are being taken.