People’s Party MPs criticize the Royal Thai Police (RTP) budget for lack of transparency, highlighting excessively expensive bomb disposal kits, suspicious aircraft maintenance budget (TOR), inflated shooting range repair costs, and bulletproof rubber sheets priced ten times higher than market rates. Meanwhile, Dr. Warong proposes a 10% cut to the police budget to discipline extortion practices.
On 10 Sep 2026 at 09:30 GMT+7, at the Parliament, the House of Representatives continued reviewing the 2027 fiscal year budget bill totaling 3.78 trillion baht, in its fourth consecutive day of consideration. Deputy Speaker Lertsak Pattanaichakul presided over the meeting addressing Section 27 concerning agencies not under the Prime Minister’s Office, ministries, bureaus, and departments with a budget of 41,956 baht. Several People’s Party MPs focused their debates on the Royal Thai Police (RTP) budget, raising concerns about inflated prices in multiple procurements, including bomb disposal equipment, aircraft maintenance budgets, and shooting range repairs.
Lt. Kittipong Piyawanno, People’s Party party-list MP, argued that the RTP procured 50 bomb disposal kits priced at 600,000 baht each, totaling 30 million baht. The TOR specifies each kit contains 40 items such as ropes, hooks, stakes, cream locks, folding knives, pulleys, and other standard quality equipment. However, comparison with publicly available prices from international manufacturers shows U.S. suppliers price similar kits at 120,000 to 140,000 baht, and Chinese manufacturers at 40,000 baht per kit. Publicly available prices range between 40,000 and 140,000 baht, but the RTP sets the price at 600,000 baht per kit, leaving a difference of several hundred thousand baht per unit. The reason for this disparity must be clarified—what justifies the 600,000 baht cost? The aim is not to buy the cheapest equipment, as staff safety is paramount, but to purchase at a justifiable price. In bomb disposal, the most valuable aspect is not the kit contents but the life of the officers. Therefore, the goal should be to minimize human proximity to explosives, using robots whenever possible. He proposed joint use of bomb disposal equipment and EOD robots between police and military.
Lt. Col. Thanadech Pengsuk, Bangkok MP for the People’s Party, debated cutting the Police Aviation Division’s aircraft maintenance budget for 2027, which requests three items: 619 million baht, 270 million baht, and 683 million baht. Although the subcommittee reduced the budget by 10%, it is insufficient. The reason for further reduction is that the 2025 maintenance budget remained unspent, and the 2026 budget is unused due to issues preventing contract signing. Normally, the Police Aviation Division hires Thai Airways to maintain aircraft, but organizational board opinions changed continuously, with Thai Airways objecting, preventing contract signing. The division has 41 aircraft, but only 8 are operational. Problems stem from appointing a pseudonymous individual “Dr. Wach,” known in the police aviation community, as a committee member who sets TOR and negotiates prices. In one meeting, Dr. Wach stated that operator selection does not require committee approval and claimed consultation with the Deputy Police Chief, granting authority to select operators directly. Dr. Wach, appointed by the Police Chief as advisor, participates in all processes. He expressed concern for Police Aviation staff safety but criticized Dr. Wach’s unilateral contractor selection. He holds an audio clip as evidence and urges the Prime Minister overseeing the RTP and the incoming Police Chief to intervene before Police Aviation collapses.
Dr. Warong Dechkitvikrom, party-list MP and leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, proposed a 10% cut to the RTP budget, citing public perception that police exploit citizens by setting up illegal checkpoints to extort money. These include mobile, random, or unjustified checkpoints lacking intent to protect the public from traffic violations but aiming to seize bribes. This fosters corruption and position trading with no resolution. He called for abolishing checkpoint policies, noting that modern technology like CCTV can monitor speed without exposing officers to sun or rain. He questioned whether extortion motives exist, noting that when traffic fines are issued through official channels, police receive no share, but when fines are collected directly on highways, police get a cut. He urged ending traffic fine revenue sharing to reduce extortion incentives and to stop police serving politicians, instead serving the public. Hence, he advocated a 10% RTP budget cut.
Ms. Sasinan Thammanithinan, Bangkok MP for the People’s Party, stated the RTP requested to purchase one set of diving equipment for the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Operations Division (SOPD), priced at 3.4 to 3.5 million baht, which is abnormal. Divers know that premium diving gear costs only 200,000 to 300,000 baht per set, but this request is nearly ten times higher at 3.5 million baht. This requires investigation. The three quotes all propose a median price of 3 million baht. The TOR showed no difference from market equipment and included unrelated items like kayaks and paddles, which contradict scuba diving requirements. She expressed concern over suspicions of RTP corruption regarding just the diving equipment budget.
Mr. Phurivat Jaisamran, Bangkok MP for the People’s Party, argued that the RTP requested 50 million baht for drainage improvements at the Police Aviation Division area. The project includes landscaping, roads, ponds, a temple, and the aviation police station. He raised concerns about cabling work priced at 1.48 million baht, including 900,000 baht for materials and 580,000 baht for labor. Three private contractors assessed the same work at around 600,000 baht, half the requested amount. Additionally, he noted irregular pricing of a CCTV computer server at 2 million baht, including 1.9 million baht for licensing and 100,000 baht for installation, while a private competitor offered the same software at 450,000 baht, nearly four times cheaper than the request.
Mr. Phurivat added that the Police Aviation Division requested 75.8 million baht for shooting range renovations, including 48.27 million baht for construction. While basic structural, material, steel profile, and labor costs are reasonable, budget concentrates disproportionately on specialized materials. For example, bulletproof rubber sheets measuring 50x50 cm are priced at 12,300 baht each, totaling 9.84 million baht for 800 sheets. This exceeds the global market price of about 1,300 baht per sheet by nearly tenfold. Bulletproof steel plates are also priced at the ceiling rate—8.2 mm thick steel costs 25,000 baht per square meter. This price is appropriate if imported ballistic steel but is exorbitant for ordinary induction steel. Additionally, a target rail system is listed at 14.4 million baht without details on firing lanes, motor specifications, or range distance, preventing value assessment.
Although the civil works seem reasonable, the expensive equipment costs warrant reconsideration. The project should be reviewed and discussed again next year, with a recommendation to cut the entire project budget.
At 11:20 GMT+7, Mr. Boonjong Wongtrairat, Nakhon Ratchasima MP for Bhumjaithai Party and a majority budget committee member, explained that the RTP requested a budget of 170 billion baht but was cut to 120 billion baht by the committee. The Police Chief appealed to the committee, expressing concern that the 50 billion baht reduction would affect allowances and fuel for junior officers. Regarding widespread checkpoints nationwide, the Police Chief stated checkpoint regulations require a sergeant-level officer to lead them. There are good and bad officers across all organizations, and those found to be corrupt will be removed.
Mr. Boonlue Prasertsopa, Ratchaburi MP for Bhumjaithai Party and majority budget committee member, clarified that details on purchases of bomb disposal kits, CCTV cameras, bulletproof vests, bulletproof sheets, and shooting range equipment, which the ICT subcommittee reduced funding for, will be documented and sent for further explanation. The assembly then voted to approve Section 27 with 270 votes in favor, 124 against, 26 abstentions, and one non-vote.