Lisa Pakamon urges the government to clarify its stance on the Land Bridge, noting lessons from the EEC project, and questions if the SEC Act will still proceed. She emphasizes that public interest must be the priority. Meanwhile, Sanphet explains that the Land Bridge is still awaiting study results.
On 18 June 2026, during a session of the House of Representatives, Ms. Pakamon Noon Anan, party-list MP and spokesperson for the People's Party, raised a general question about the clarity of the Southern Special Economic Corridor (SEC). The Prime Minister assigned Mr. Sanphet Boonyamanee, Deputy Minister of Transport, to clarify. Ms. Pakamon stated it is well known that the Land Bridge project would be enacted under a special law called the Southern Special Economic Corridor Act or SEC. Her question today concerns the clarity of this law. The Bhumjaithai Party submitted two bills in the previous parliament, which upon review appear almost identical in content. Moreover, during the push for this project, there was criticism and detailed scrutiny of the SEC bill, helping the public better understand it.
The SEC Act includes a key board responsible for approving the project. The public is well aware that this law must be passed before the project proceeds. She referenced a statement by Mr. Karavee Prisanantakul, Chairman of the Government Whip Committee, on 7 May, who noted that the two SEC bills submitted in the previous parliament had not been confirmed by the cabinet for re-submission. Karavee said the SEC bills and the Land Bridge project are separate matters. Bhumjaithai is considering a new draft law to support new economic opportunities in the south for resubmission to parliament.
She therefore asked what the government's current position on southern development is. Will a new SEC Act bill be submitted as Karavee indicated? His statement carries weight as he is part of the government whip. Why is the Land Bridge project considered unrelated to SEC? How will the minister reconcile the relationship between the new southern development legislation from Bhumjaithai and the current government?
Sanphet explained that this development is not new, similar to economic corridors in other parts of the country. The SEC Act draft must still be submitted to parliament for approval. Regarding current government policy, the cabinet resolved that the Ministry of Transport collaborate with relevant agencies to gather public and stakeholder opinions on project direction. Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn designated this as a Quick Win policy and established a committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, to study Land Bridge implementation and propose a plan to the cabinet within 90 days, ending 3 August.
Ms. Pakamon followed up, asking for clear confirmation whether the government will not submit a new SEC Act bill but proceed with the existing draft. The Ministry of Finance has been studying the project for 42 days within the 90-day framework. Can Mr. Sanphet update the public on progress? Is there a chance to reconsider aspects such as the long-questioned cost-effectiveness and natural resource issues? Forty-two days is nearly halfway through, so some progress should be evident.
Another concern she raised as a representative and southerner relates to the Prime Minister's remarks at the Asian Future Forum in Vietnam, expressing readiness to push the project to connect trade and investment across the region. Since the committee is still studying it, she worries this might preempt the committee's findings and asked the deputy minister to clarify to ease public concern.
Sanphet responded, that currently the cabinet has not confirmed submitting the SEC Act draft to the House of Representatives. On whether the project is cost-effective, that is debatable, but he cannot answer on its value until the committee's study, within the 90-day timeframe, is complete. Both he and Ms. Pakamon recognize the south has long lacked development. Regarding concerns about inequality, the government is listening and has taken lessons from the EEC project. The SEC Act draft will add Article 9 to include local public representatives from provinces within the southern economic corridor on the policy committee. It also clarifies private property rights and sets fair expropriation and compensation standards.
Ms. Pakamon disagreed, saying the south has never lacked mega projects but lacks the will to sustain them. She worries the project might fail. She asked, as a southerner, whether the minister is concerned that the south might end up like the EEC, whether lessons have truly been learned, and if he fears opposition to industrial estates like the past case of the Chana estate. She also asked if he worries the south might face problems similar to those currently in the eastern region.
The Deputy Transport Minister said that his stance on southern development is largely aligned with Ms. Pakamon's. Asked if it would be like the EEC, he said no, because each area’s context differs. Regarding the Land Bridge project, looking only at one side may show no value, but seen as a north-south linkage to develop land infrastructure and support cross-border transport from southern China through Thailand to Malaysia, plus east-west connections, the project area has high development potential as a trade and transport hub. There are many other projects beyond the Land Bridge for southern development, still conceptual and not yet implemented, pending study results. Meanwhile, some projects already implemented have not succeeded.
Ms. Pakamon concluded by saying although their views on southern development may differ, whatever the approach, she hopes the public interest is prioritized so that when officials return to their local areas, they can face the people there with confidence.