Bangkok: Mr. Chulaphan Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance, has expressed concerns regarding the hesitancy among new generation politicians in pushing forward public policies due to fears of punitive consequences. This apprehension has surfaced following the Supreme Administrative Court's decision ordering former Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10,028 million baht in damages related to the G2G rice sale under the rice pledging scheme.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chulaphan emphasized the challenges faced by politicians who aim to implement beneficial public policies, particularly when these policies are scrutinized under the lens of profit and loss. He noted that when governments elected by the people implement their promised policies, they often encounter negative perceptions, despite the absence of corruption issues. This environment creates a deterrent for emerging politicians who are eager to introduce innovative projects but fear potential repercussions.
Mr. Chulaphan also addressed the issue of rice stockpiles, valued at over 200 billion baht, which are being gradually sold to balance the accounts. He highlighted the need for the Comptroller General's Department to clearly interpret the Administrative Court's order to determine feasible actions. Additionally, he mentioned the government's obligation to allocate a budget annually for debt repayment to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), in accordance with the Fiscal Discipline Act, Section 28. This involves compensating the remaining 800 billion baht with interest, acknowledging BAAC's ongoing support to the government over the years.