Details of the projects under the 2-trillion-baht mega infrastructure bill are needed as a blueprint for public scrutiny, Democrat Party deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij said on Thursday.
The former finance minister said that the projects still lacked detailed information and he urged the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand to monitor all processes to prevent irregularities.
The two-day deliberation of the bill to authorise the Finance Ministry to borrow 2 trillion baht began on Thursday.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva attacked the government, saying the borrowing bill was unnecessary because the government could work out deficit budgets to sufficiently fund the projects and should not risk breaching the nation's public debt ceiling.
He warned that the bill could create an unnecessary debt burden for years to come and doubted the government's ability to repay the 2-trillion-baht debt plus 3-trillion-baht interest.
Bhumjaithai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima Boonjong Wongtrairat said the borrowing contradicted the government's earlier promise to adhere to the sufficiency economy and that the government had not elaborated on the sources of revenue it would generate to repay the debt in 50 years.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the House that infrastructure development, especially transport projects, under the budget will increase competitiveness for the country and boost economic growth.
"The investment in the next seven years will increase the gross domestic product by 1% and create 500,000 jobs yearly," the prime minister said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said benefits from the investment will outweigh the borrowing and last for a century.