The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has urged the government to ensure information about its 2-trillion-baht mega-investment projects is available to the public.
ACT president Pramon Sutivong raised the issue yesterday during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt about the need for public scrutiny of the infrastructure projects.
Mr Pramon said he wanted the government to make it clear in a Prime Minister's Office draft regulation that all information about the projects be made available.
He was referring to the draft law on state procurement and hiring for the megaprojects.
The draft has passed Council of State scrutiny and is expected to be forwarded to the cabinet next week.
"The draft regulation only states that information will be revealed to comply with the law," Mr Pramon said.
"The reality, however, is that some agencies will not provide any information if they are not asked for it. They could even claim the information is classified," Mr Pramon said. The government must also specify in the regulation what kind of information it will reveal, he said.
Mr Chadchart said the government would consider the matter.
The committee deliberating the state projects is chaired by Mr Kittiratt. It will select inspectors to monitor the projects.
Nine of the 14 committee members will be from the private sector. Their inspections will ensure transparency in the projects, he said.
Mr Kittiratt said the 2-trillion-baht scheme will be carried out in line with the anti-graft act, which demands that a median price be announced in bidding contests.
Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana said the inspectors will be selected from a list of experts who have no conflicts of interest in the infrastructure projects.