Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has made an about-turn, saying the government will hand out the 5,000-baht aid for three months as planned earlier.

Prayut apologised on Thursday for the “miscommunication” on the previous day. On Wednesday he said the government would have money for only a month’s worth of the handout, leading to an uproar among applicants.

On Thursday, he said the government would make sure the aid was paid for three months.

“If the situation improves after that period, there’s no need for the government to find more money since people could work normally. But if the situation drags on, we will have to consider finding more money.”

He added he did not mean the government would pay for only one month. “I was just trying to explain how we plan to spend the [stimulus] funds. I don’t mean [people] will not receive the aid in full or [the government] won’t pay.”

Prayut had said yesterday, referring to the budget, that, "This amount is enough to cover the cash giveaways just one month. So the second and third payments will have to wait for the decree. Let me repeat. The budget is enough for one month," he said.