Chaiyachonok welcomes the opposition's investigation into the TH-AI Passport, saying they can submit it immediately without waiting for the project to start. He insists that as a minister, his role is at the policy level and does not involve procurement, which is the responsibility of career civil servants. He confirms the project has been examined and found valuable for both the government and the public.
17 Jun 2026 GMT+7 Chaiyachonok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, spoke regarding the opposition's intention to investigate the TH-AI Passport immediately upon the opening of registration, stating that submissions can be made right away without waiting for the project to begin. He has instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Digital Ministry and related agencies to review it and found everything complies with regulations, so he is not concerned.
Regarding the opposition's reservations about such projects and whether the minister would be responsible if errors occur, Chaiyachonok said responsibility depends on the degree of involvement. His role is to set policy, review, and listen to feedback, including public consultations. He advised negotiating with government agencies to ensure increased benefits for the government, efficient budget use, and alignment with government policy. Concerns about other aspects must be addressed by the agencies handling those processes.
"Personally, I believe that ministers should not interfere with procurement processes, and it would be inappropriate to hold ministers responsible for those. This should be judged appropriately. However, I confirm that all doubts have prompted orders for investigation, and the involved civil servants have confirmed their findings, which I trust."
When asked if he welcomes the opposition's continued scrutiny of this project, Chaiyachonok replied that oversight is necessary and that the opposition should be thanked. Everything must be examined. It is impossible for a minister to know every step and detail of a project, so he supports scrutiny to ensure all projects operate efficiently.
When further questioned about frequent political attacks on this issue, Chaiyachonok said he initially thought it was purely political because questions started about whether the budget was well spent and the product’s quality. Now, it is clear the product is quality and cost-effective. When that was established, the debate shifted to the terms of reference (TOR). Seeing compliance with regulations, critics moved to question the private sector. He said this must be monitored, but he reaffirmed that his policy focuses on public benefit. Currently, negotiations are underway to pay based on actual use—if 5 million rights are registered but some are unused, the full 1.6 billion baht budget won’t be paid. He believes everything is progressing so that both the state and citizens gain more benefits, and he stands by this.
Regarding concerns that the minister might be shifting responsibility to career civil servants, Chaiyachonok said it is not a shift but reflects different responsibilities. The minister’s role is policy guidance and monitoring project efficiency and alignment with government policy. He reiterated that since ministers should not interfere in procurement, they should not be involved in that process.