BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 The Opposition has expressed concerns that the 2-trillion-baht loan bill will increase the country’s public debt and it might lack transparency.
Before the House’s second reading of the 2-trillion-baht loan bill for infrastructure development this week, Opposition Chief Whip Jurin Laksanawisit cautioned that this year’s public debt of 5.2 trillion baht would rise if the loan bill was passed. The 350-billion-baht loan bill for water management would also contribute to a public debt increase, he said.
The chief whip added that the projects which would be financed by the loans might not be transparent and 53 of them had not yet conducted environmental and health impact assessments. Mr Jurin also suggested that the House’s second loan bill reading this week be broadcast live to the public since the bill was worth trillions.
