Srettha’s adviser says digital wallet scheme may be delayed, but not scrapped
An adviser to the finance minister said on Wednesday that the government was still awaiting a formal letter from the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission before it could go ahead with the implementation of the contentious digital wallet scheme.
Phaophum Rojanasakul, adviser to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin who is also the finance minister, said the government was awaiting the NACC’s opinion on the 500-billion-baht project.
Phaophum, who is also a member on the national digital wallet committee, said the government only knew about the NACC’s stand on the project via reports.
The NACC Office said recently that its subcommittee had studied the project and reached the conclusion that it should not be implemented because the country’s economy was not in a serious enough crisis to warrant such a huge off-budget borrowing of 500 billion baht. The subpanel also reportedly warned that the project implementation could lead to massive corruption during the process of handing out money.
The scheme was a flagship election campaign policy of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The party promised to hand out 10,000 in digital cash to all Thais age 16 and above. After taking power as the head of a coalition, they revised the scheme to exclude those earning more than 70,000 baht per month and those with savings above 500,000 baht.
Phaophum said the 10,000 baht money could not be handed out in time in May as earlier promised because the government had to first see the NACC’s official letter.
He said the Office of Ombudsmen would also send its opinion on the project.
“The government has the duty to listen to the opinions of all sides. But these opinions are not binding on the government. We’ll listen to useful proposals and adapt the programme accordingly. We’ll go on with the good things of the project,” Phaophum said.
“Once we get all the proposals, we’ll consider them before the next meeting of the full digital wallet committee would be held,” Phaophum said.
Although the project would be delayed, the government would try to implement it as soon as possible because the administration realises the need to stimulate the economy soon, Phaophum added.
“The timeline would be extended, but not by much. We’ll need time but not much because we’re just waiting for a document from the NACC,” Phaophum added.
He said the government would not lower the 500 billion baht loan amount either.
