Opposition MPs have called for cuts to the Interior Ministry’s 2027 budget, questioning the cost-effectiveness and transparency of several projects and procurement schemes.
Among the many examples cited in the House on Wednesday was an order for nearly 15,000 bulletproof vests at 46,000 baht each – 48% more what the Internal Security Operations Command paid for vests with the same specifications.
During the debate on the 2027 budget bill, Democrat Party list MP Chaichana Dechdecho proposed cutting the ministry’s allocation of more than 227 billion baht by 10%, saying its spending priorities failed to adequately address public needs.
He raised concerns about drug rehabilitation, disaster relief and infrastructure projects, as well as personnel and spending in the three southern border provinces.
Mr Chaichana said drug users sent for rehabilitation often received little follow-up support after returning to their communities, resulting in relapse rates of 70-80%. He proposed redirecting provincial cluster funding to rehabilitation and follow-up programmes.
On flood relief and infrastructure, he alleged some emergency projects were plagued by serious budget leakage.
He cited contracts specifying 100 cubic metres of stone in which only 50-70 cubic metres were allegedly delivered, while dredging projects requiring the removal of 1,000 cubic metres of material were completed after only about 500 cubic metres had been removed.
He also called for checks on personnel deployed in the southern border provinces and questioned whether body armour purchased under a 400-million-baht allocation had been properly delivered and used.
People’s Party Chiang Mai MP Nataphol Tovichakchaikul separately urged the government to cut or postpone spending on a 47-million-baht hotel guest information system using artificial intelligence. He said the government should first amend the 2007 Hotel Act to bring about 70,000 unregistered accommodation providers into the system.
People’s Party list MP Cdr Kittipong Piyawanno questioned the proposed 482.8-million-baht purchase of 14,814 bulletproof vests.
He said some were priced at 46,000 baht each, compared with 31,000 baht for vests of the same specifications purchased by the Internal Security Operations Command. He proposed creating a central price database to flag significant discrepancies.