Transport Minister may apply Section 44 to state projects

BANGKOK, 16 April 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has been considering the use of Section 44 to expedite its infrastructure projects.

In a bid to bring several projects initiated during this administration to fruition, Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong said that he may apply Section 44 of the 2014 interim government to ongoing issues.

The Transport Minister had been referring to the replacement of the Department of Civil Aviation due to its downgrade by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Section 44 provides the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with wide discretion to issue orders and undertake acts that the NCPO deems appropriate for the sake of national reform. The Transport Minister said the use of Section 44 may speed up government action.

Many of the ministry’s development projects are faced with slow progress. ACM Prajin said that unexpected problems that needed to be corrected urgently have impeded the ministry’s efforts to execute its projects.

Several projects that the minister wishes to accomplish within this administration include the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang Airport and U-Tapao Airport; the construction of the dual-track railway, new motorways and expressways; and the purchase of NGV buses.


-- NNT 2015-04-16

A lot of these projects if initiated speedily through sec 44 , will bypass many checks. This will leave them open to widespread corruption that might not be able to prosecute, because that law says any action instigated by it cannot be prosecuted. Why is it so important for them to have these projects rushed through under the protection of 44 and outside of the parliamentary scrutinised process.

This government has announced more projects than any other I can think of without proper checks and balances... but then we all know that the Army would never cheat the people !!!

Understand that Article 44 is the sole priviledge of the NCPO (albeit given to itself).

So this article should read, "The Ministry of Transport has been considering asking the NCPO for use of Section 44 to expedite its infrastructure projects."

And of couse when we say "asking the NCPO," it is the Chief of the NCPO General Prayut that makes the decision.

It will be interesting to see how far the Junta will take Article 44 into Thais' everyday life.

For example,

My toilet won't flush, can Prayut enact Article 44 to make it flush?

Check your financial position first Minister then say that again , half the projects announced have already been absorbed on Junta wages and junkets.