'Ice Rakchanok' boldly exposes four ministries for failing to submit budget request data to the parliamentary committee and questions why the government prefers using the central budget instead.,
On 11 July 2026 at the Parliament Building, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget Preparation and Oversight, held a press conference revealing the names of ministries and government agencies that refused to provide detailed annual budget request information to the committee for transparency checks, describing it as a lack of cooperation with legislative oversight.
Ms. Rakchanok further disclosed the names of ministries that did not submit any data to the committee, namely the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Public Health. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided only minimal information insufficient for any meaningful review. Additionally, irregularities were found in ministries that initially submitted budget documents but later requested to withdraw them, including the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The committee chair added that despite several ministries attempting to conceal information, the committee's review of some budget documents, such as in Hat Yai municipality, Songkhla Province—a topic of heated debate between government representatives and local authorities—revealed clear evidence of a request to purchase four-cylinder, four-stroke jet skis valued at 8 million baht, as well as a smart classroom project. This evidence will clearly show the public who is truthful between the government and local authorities.
"When assessing whether the government is sincere and truthful in addressing public issues, one should look at the content of the regular budget allocations and project inclusions in plans. However, in reality, local authorities submit requests that the government often rejects but may secretly approve through the central budget instead. Thus, a major question must be posed to the government: why, on many persistent issues causing public hardship, do they refuse to allocate funds through the standard national budget system to resolve problems?" Ms. Rakchanok concluded.