Pakorn chaired a meeting of the committee investigating the Hat Yai flood recovery budget after complaints surfaced, assuring readiness to clarify all matters.
At 10:00 a.m. on 19 Aug 2026 GMT+7 at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt chaired the first 2026 meeting of the committee investigating the facts and legal issues regarding the spending of the 30 million baht central emergency reserve fund for the post-flood recovery project in Hat Yai district and surrounding areas. Attending were Deputy Minister of Interior Worasit Liangprasit and Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission Phumwisarn Kasemsuk.
Before the meeting, Pakorn said that after the severe flooding crisis in Hat Yai and surrounding areas from 19-21 Nov 2025, which led the government to declare an emergency on 25 Nov 2025, over 800,000 people were affected, with extensive damage and fatalities. The government’s focus has been on assisting and rehabilitating the affected population, but complaints have arisen alleging improper use of the central budget reserve.
Pakorn stated that the Prime Minister took these concerns seriously and thus formed this fact-finding and legal review committee to examine whether the complaints have merit, identify those involved, and investigate suspicions about budget spending in multiple cases. Initially, the Cabinet approved the central budget on 2 Dec 2025, allocating 30 million baht as proposed by the Ministry of Interior. Subsequent actions were taken, but it must be verified whether these complied with laws and regulations, and if any legal exceptions were made given the emergency situation. The committee is empowered to review these matters in cooperation with related agencies. Pakorn emphasized the importance of achieving full clarity on all issues, whatever the case may be.
