Paetongtarn Reaffirms Digital Wallet Commitment Amid Cancellation Rumours

[webfact]

FILE - Thailand's Prime Minister-designate Paetongtarn Shinawatra, with members of Pheu Thai party talks to reporters during a press conference at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has quashed rumours surrounding the cancellation of the highly anticipated Digital Wallet Project. In an emphatic statement at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters, Paetongtarn clarified that the rumours were unfounded, reiterating the project’s significance as a vital economic stimulus for Thailand.

 

Paetongtarn directly addressed speculation that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had a hand in halting the project.

 

She categorically denied any such interference, stressing the project's importance in boosting the economy. "The Digital Wallet Project represents a crucial step in modernising our financial infrastructure," she noted. "We are committed to moving forward, but we must ensure it aligns with the Fiscal Discipline Act."

 

Acknowledging the economic changes Thailand has faced over the past year, Paetongtarn highlighted the necessity for thorough study and public consultation before implementing the project. This approach aims to guarantee that the Digital Wallet meets the country's updated financial needs.

 

On the political front, Paetongtarn dismissed claims of her father’s overpowering influence on government decisions. "My family and I operate independently within our boundaries," she stated. "My father is a valuable asset to our nation's growth, but he is not seeking any political position."

 

Addressing her tenure and future plans, Paetongtarn spoke of her unwavering dedication to her current role. She emphasised her resolve to focus on the nation's goals and leave past challenges behind. On the topic of the royal pardon recently granted to her father, she expressed profound gratitude to the monarchy.

 

Paetongtarn concluded her remarks by sharing her guiding philosophy of living in the present and performing her duties to the best of her ability each day. "Concentrating on today's tasks ensures we lay a solid foundation for tomorrow," she said, reaffirming her commitment to Thailand's progress.

 

-- 2024-08-20

 

- Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Pouatchee]

go against daddy's wishes?

 

[bob smith]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

"My father is a valuable asset to our nation's growth, but he is not seeking any political position."

come off it, ung ing 🤣

 

 

bob.

[Karma80]

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

My family and I operate independently within our boundaries

And how exactly do you think you ended up with this, or indeed any other job?
Frankly, having any family with generations of prime ministers in it goes to show the level of corruption, nepotism and actively going out of your way to ignore the very people you claim to represent.

Edited August 20 by Karma80

[JBChiangRai]

This will trundle along until election time and then there will be a flurry of activity and they can only introduce it if they are elected.

 

I don't see how this is anything other than vote buying.

[JoePai]

Looking a bit rough in that photo

[redwood1]

If the Thais only had one baht for every time the media bla bla bla-ed  about the 10,000 in the past year they would all be rich.....

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, Pouatchee said:

go against daddy's wishes?

 

 

 

A set up????......rumors put out he wants to kill it.....she says no.....looks like she is strong and independent.

[newbee2022]

That's interesting. Yesterday her father stated to cancel the donation to the people and today the new PM will stick to it as buying votes for the coming election.

The elite must see Thai people as extremely stupid.😳

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Looking a bit rough in that photo

Yeah, how she looks in a photo, is very relevant to the news and Thai politics.
 

32 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

A set up????......rumors put out he wants to kill it.....she says no.....looks like she is strong and independent.

Of course it´s a set-up! History tell a lot of times when Thaksin was giving away money to the people. Then it was mostly poor farmers, and now it will be other groups as well. Why would he not stand behind his old ideal.

[sscc]

3 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

go against daddy's wishes?

 

 

Two days ago,  that report of Thaksin S  opinion on the digital wallet  was  FAKED and ill-intent news.  

 

Faked news come out all the time in Thailand. 

After all there are only two red lines in news reporting in Thailand.  Many long-stay foreigners are not quite aware yet.  

[john donson]

now priority nr 1, bring auntie home

 

then she can resign

[harryviking]

The Digital Wallet......The first step on the road to total surveillance, the Chinese CCP way...

[Bravoxray]

Digital IDs are the first step to enslavement of the entire nation (except the elites, naturally). Looks like harryviking beat me to it, so I will just add this: in a totalitarian society where everyone is surveilling everyone else, not even the elites are safe  - only some of those who will control the AI algorithms will be the real rulers. 

Edited August 20 by Bravoxray
stated in the edit

[spidermike007]

If there ever was a PM who started with zero credibility we are witnessing this now. Just her association with her father, who sold out his soul, his party, and his people for his freedom, is enough to cancel out any possibility of integrity and good leadership. 

 

The people will not tolerate these goons much longer. My theory is that the army brass already knows this, and are now forming an escape plan. Hopefully into exile, but far better, into prison. 

 

They can fight a few tens of thousands. They cannot possibly beat many millions. And that is what we will see when this army created debacle is over with. 

 

They are utterly desperate to hang onto power, and access to the trillions of baht that likely generates for them. Using the LM and sedition laws shows how utterly intolerant of criticism these very small, very weak men are, that they need to hide behind and utilize these laws, to attempt crush the will of the people. 

 

The time is coming, when this will no longer be tolerated. Just wait. The army is on it's way out. It could take awhile, and it could get ugly, though it will never get to the hellish level of Burma, as the Thai parents would never, ever permit that kind of genocidal behavior from their sons. You take out one more Thai, and you are forever disowned by this family. That is all it would take to bring about mass defections from the army ranks. That would sure be fun to witness. Are the pompous generals going to put themselves into harms way? Never. They do not have it in them, they are cowards. 

[soi3eddie]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Looking a bit rough in that photo

 

Must have been one hell of a weekend party at the Shinawatra family mansion!

[MikeandDow]

13 minutes ago, Bravoxray said:

Digital IDs are the first step to enslavement of the entire nation (except the elites, naturally). Looks like harryviking beat me to it, so I will just add this: in a totalitarian society where everyone is surveilling everyone else, not even the elites are safe  - only some of those who will control the AI algorithms will be the real rulers. 

1984

[TheFishman1]

she does have a lot of experience she’s a degree in like hotel management and then she takes after her father who stole billions and left the country for 15 years or maybe she’ll take after her aunt who sold a lot of money and the day before the verdict she mysteriously was able to leave the country and flew to be with her brother you couldn’t make up a serial TV show funnier than this and can anybody believe any of the politicians here the guy that borrowed the watch from his dead neighbor, the military guy who did a coup and took over the government he said that after a year he would have a free election, but then he said the people weren’t happy enough to have a free election then when they finally do have an election and they vote on a PM another they’re able to kick him out after all the money comes back doesn’t serve anytime in jail. He’s free to walk around and gets his daughter elected as Prime Minister who would ever believe this so when will the sister come back her aunt and another question where is the Red Bull kid Justice for all TIT.

[worgeordie]

Maybe they need to stop the digital wallet thing, and put the

money into the health care system ,if that is really running

short of money , that is the most important priority ,most

of the 10K is just going to be wasted ,and  after a few months,

(when they finally get it ) ,it will be like they never had it....

 

regards worgeordie

[eddie61]

5 hours ago, Karma80 said:

And how exactly do you think you ended up with this, or indeed any other job?
Frankly, having any family with generations of prime ministers in it goes to show the level of corruption, nepotism and actively going out of your way to ignore the very people you claim to represent.

<deleted>

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Acknowledging the economic changes Thailand has faced over the past year, Paetongtarn highlighted the necessity for thorough study and public consultation before implementing the project.

Another delay while funds are being sought?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

On the political front, Paetongtarn dismissed claims of her father’s overpowering influence on government decisions. "My family and I operate independently within our boundaries," she stated. "My father is a valuable asset to our nation's growth, but he is not seeking any political position."

Back seat driver...

[Dogmatix]

this is going to be entertaining.  She is walking on a knife edge with the ludicrous digital wallet scam.  It is PT's "flagship" policy and electoral pledge and millions of Thais have already registered for it, including many who borrowed from loan sharks to buy a smart phone to register. On the other hand whoever approves the project risks either going to jail or being banned from politics or both and Thaksin's enemies will be working overtime on this now his daughter is in their sights.  This was a hit that Thaksin was happy for Srettha to take but now it is his last remaining card, Ung Ing, he has got cold feet.  Ung Ing is going to have to pull it in its present form and water it down further and divert it to something else to try to avoid legal pitfalls. this will entail further delays and loss of credibility and might not avoid legal problems anyway. 

 

Serves Thaksin right for thinking up such an albatross of a flagship policy and makes very clear that all the decent economic and marketing advisors deserted him long ago, if the ones he has left couldn't come up with anything better than the digital wallet. 

Edited August 20 by Dogmatix

[Thingamabob]

She's in a spot of bother regarding her involvement in the illegal purchase of monastic land.

 

That didn't take long to emerge, post her appointment.

 

Meantime, Daddy's still not been given the all clear on an important outstanding charge re 112.

[MikeandDow]

5 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

She's in a spot of bother regarding her involvement in the illegal purchase of monastic land.

 

That didn't take long to emerge, post her appointment.

 

Meantime, Daddy's still not been given the all clear on an important outstanding charge re 112.

she was 16 at the time this scandal started  this is muck raking by the red shirts

[ballpoint]

Have some patience people. Digital wallets will be handed out as soon as every school child has received the tablet promised them by the last Shinawatra government.

[crazykopite]

My father is a very important asset to Thailand ! In other words he tells his daughter this and that she has no idea how to run a sandwich bar let alone government she’s a puppet and daddy pulls the strings ! If she cancels the digital wallet the people will take to the streets to protest this promise was to win votes for papa’s party looks like it’s about to be a broken promise 

[Clarkey611]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

"My father is a valuable asset to our nation's growth, but he is not seeking any political position."

555555. Pull the other one!

[shackleton]

I don't think she will cancel the Digital Wallet payout as a lot of people are looking forward to receiving it 🤑

But I think they will look more carefully at who should receive it 🤔 

Give to those who need and deserve it 

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, shackleton said:

I don't think she will cancel the Digital Wallet payout as a lot of people are looking forward to receiving it 🤑

But I think they will look more carefully at who should receive it 🤔 

Give to those who need and deserve it 

And how will it be determined who gets it and who doesn't, would it be OK to give to a poor mother and father  with a alcoholic son who would rob the money from them, what a bout a druggy son or gambler son who wants the mother and father share to feed there habits, it is a big problem this handout  it should not be in the form of money