"Karndee - Democrat Party" is set to confront the Digital Economy Agency, demanding an explanation regarding the TOR of the TH AI Passport project for violating the Integrity Pact, raising concerns it could be invalidated.
On 22 September 2026 at the Democrat Party headquarters, Dr. Karndee Liaoipiroj, party-list MP and deputy party leader, held a press conference updating progress after submitting a request to the Office of the Auditor General to investigate seven suspicious issues in the TH AI Passport electronic passport procurement project. He said the Comptroller General's Department confirmed that the project did not participate in the "Integrity Pact," a critical point because the Terms of Reference (TOR) drafted, approved, and overseen entirely by the Digital Economy Agency clearly state under bidder qualifications, clause 3.16, that "bidders must sign the Integrity Pact for procurement projects with budgets of 1 billion baht or more."
"This TOR was drafted and approved entirely by the Digital Economy Agency, so why was the criterion they set not followed? Does this mean the agency is violating rules it established itself?" Dr. Karndee said. He added that the Integrity Pact under the Public Procurement and Supplies Management Act is not just a formal document but a key mechanism to ensure transparency in billion-baht projects by involving independent observers from the TOR drafting stage, through bidding, to delivery. If the process proceeds to actual competition, other bidders could contest this as illegal procurement, potentially causing the TH AI Passport project to be nullified.
An examination of the timeline shows this TOR was completed before entering the Comptroller General's Department process. Therefore, questions must be raised to the Digital Economy Agency and its procurement committee about why they ignored compliance with their own established rules. A clear and transparent explanation to Thai society is urgently needed.