The cost of Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's recent excursion to Hawaii for a security meeting with Asean defence ministers has caused a storm of protest on the social media.
Because the visit was regarded as government business, Gen Prawit chartered a plane to Honolulu for himself and an entourage, with the bill coming to 20.9 million baht, the website of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister shows.
A Thai Airways plane was required for the trip which lasted from Thursday to Sunday.
The issue has divided netizens, with many making scathing comments on the Matichon Weekly Facebook account on Sunday. One feature of the heated debate concerned the 600,000 baht earmarked during the trip for food and beverages.
They splashed out using taxpayers' money, one commentator wrote on the Facebook.
Gen Prawit went to Hawaii for an informal meeting between Asean defence ministers and their US partner to foster cooperation between the Southeast Asian bloc and Washington. The meeting ended on Saturday and the minister returned to Bangkok on Sunday.
US Defence Secretary Ash Carter praised Thailand for maintaining the oldest alliance in the region, army spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich said.
The bill breakdown is:
Plane rental - 3,835,200 baht
Fuel cost - 10,776,000 baht
Food and beverages - 600,000 baht
Ground service operations - 2,636,400 baht
Other expenses - 3,106,200 baht
The total expenses of the trip to Hawaii for an Asean-US defence ministers meeting. (Photo from the the Secretariat of the Prime Minister website)