Popular Post webfact Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 The Thai government’s controversial plan to raise 500 billion baht through an off-budget loan for the digital wallet scheme has run into another roadblock. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) recently issued a warning that the scheme risked violating the Constitution and related laws and was vulnerable to corruption. In January, the Council of State — the government’s legal advisory body — had also suggested thorough consultation with related agencies, and asked that the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act be followed before proposing a loan bill to Parliament. A hot potato In the run-up to the May general election last year, the Pheu Thai Party had pledged to implement the digital wallet scheme under which everyone aged 16 years and above would be given a one-time 10,000 baht handout for spending in a prescribed radius within six months. The estimated cost of the scheme was around 560 billion baht. Pheu Thai, which leads the current ruling coalition had argued then that the scheme was aimed at boosting the country’s faltering economic growth to at least 5 per cent. Economic growth in recent years has been stuck in a rut of 2-3 per cent. Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gknrd Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 And, "Joke of the Day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChaiyaTH Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 This just becomes so tiring and repeating... clearly they really have few brains here. It's a bit like the stuff I deal with at home, you talk about it for dozens of times and then they still do it their own (not working) way each time, to ask for help when it goes wrong, to then still do the same again after having received advice. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post worgeordie Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 36 minutes ago, webfact said: The Thai government’s controversial plan to raise 500 billion baht through an off-budget loan "The estimated cost of the scheme was around 560 billion baht."so it's going to cost 60 Billion Baht to run the thing , seems like a lot of corruption just there. regards Worgeordie 2 2 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post smedly Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 pay up or hold an election the courts should disolve all the parties for election fraud 3 1 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokningar Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 43 minutes ago, smedly said: pay up or hold an election the courts should disolve all the parties for election fraud Does that happen in your home country? Politicians first priority, get elected. Second priority get reelected. Nothing ells mater to them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BigStar Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 1 hour ago, worgeordie said: "The estimated cost of the scheme was around 560 billion baht."so it's going to cost 60 Billion Baht to run the thing , seems like a lot of corruption just there. regards Worgeordie Agreed. This is obviously a scheme, and vote buying. The gov't will pay back the loan with baht cheapened by inflation, while borrowing more in the meantime. Hope the BOT stands firm, at least. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stoner Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said: This just becomes so tiring and repeating... clearly they really have few brains here. It's a bit like the stuff I deal with at home, you talk about it for dozens of times and then they still do it their own (not working) way each time, to ask for help when it goes wrong, to then still do the same again after having received advice. how do you know my wife so well ? spooky. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritScot Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 It should have been means tested and not a blanket 10,000baht for everyone. A welfare payment, but I suppose the same people would still be screaming about it. Heaven forbid the poor get any help.... Hold your heads in shame!!! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 4 hours ago, smedly said: pay up or hold an election Can't the parties just make a new coalition and form a new government. If all the coalition partners support this scheme (and I don't belive they do) then they continue as they are. The clocks ticking on this delicate coalition. What is it - 9 separate parties - it was doomed from the outset in my opinion - too many different parties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jaywalker2 Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 I thought the whole purpose was corruption 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TooPoopedToPop Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 7 hours ago, BigStar said: Agreed. This is obviously a scheme, and vote buying. The gov't will pay back the loan with baht cheapened by inflation, while borrowing more in the meantime. Hope the BOT stands firm, at least. Vote buying it is and it has Thaksin's dirty fingerprints all over it. 1 3 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 17 hours ago, webfact said: The Thai government’s controversial plan to raise 500 billion baht through an off-budget loan for the digital wallet scheme has run into another roadblock. Should have thought this all through before making the vote buying pledge. Now in office they cannot afford to raise the money to fulfill their promise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 17 hours ago, webfact said: Pheu Thai, which leads the current ruling coalition had argued then that the scheme was aimed at boosting the country’s faltering economic growth to at least 5 per cent. Economic growth in recent years has been stuck in a rut of 2-3 per cent. It was a vote buying scam, pure and simple. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAppletons Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 16 hours ago, worgeordie said: "The estimated cost of the scheme was around 560 billion baht."so it's going to cost 60 Billion Baht to run the thing , seems like a lot of corruption just there. regards Worgeordie From the article: "In November, the government revised the eligibility criteria and excluded those having monthly income of 70,000 baht and above, as well as those having bank deposits of 500,000 baht and above. This reduced the number of people eligible for the handouts to 50 million from 54 million, lowering the estimated cost to around 500 billion baht from 560 billion baht." So no, it's not designed to cost 60 billion THB to "run the thing". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jacko45k Posted February 12 Popular Post Share Posted February 12 (edited) Let's just make it a 5kg bag of rice for everyone and end it at that! Edited February 12 by jacko45k 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presnock Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 16 hours ago, bokningar said: Does that happen in your home country? Politicians first priority, get elected. Second priority get reelected. Nothing ells mater to them. You got most of it correct...you forgot get rich through corruption..US Congress for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The Old Bull Posted February 13 Popular Post Share Posted February 13 Where I live nothing within 4 kms only a couple of mom and pop shops not tech savvy. I can see some sharp young guy setting up a shell company with a QR code and buying credits for cash at a heavily discounted rate. This will get ugly when the Thai mafia get involved and these sites pop up all over. Thais like quick cash I can't see anyone spreading benefits over six months if they can get instant cash even at a discounted rate,so city businesses will be buying up credits rather than delivering goods. The whole thing is unworkable. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfd101 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Conclusion: Ain't gonna happen. Move on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdey Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Not sure how the government can set a limit on monthly income as so few people pay tax. A lot of people are not declaring their earnings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 "Government finds itself backed into a corner on digital wallet scheme" is a viable position than backed "against the wall" (my bold) Analysis of the issues is more defined for the former having four dimensions and less defined for the latter having only two (or less) dimensions. The government should embrace the corner, engage the problems, collect the applicable economic data and determine the necessary legislative goals to deliver in an equitable, fair and accountable manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETERTHEEATER Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Just accept it's an iconic soft power scheme and await the outcome....😋 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stoner Posted February 13 Popular Post Share Posted February 13 10 hours ago, jacko45k said: Let's just make it a 5kg bag of rice for everyone and end it at that! yingluck could head the committee. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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