Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charassathien has asked the government to slash the military's budget for arms purchases to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Yutthapong yesterday asked why all arms procurements projects in the 2022 fiscal year remain intact, despite the increasing number of people experiencing economic hardship because of the pandemic.
He highlighted a number of procurement projects, including the navy's plan to purchase two submarines worth 25 billion baht from China and the army's plan to procure two attack helicopters worth 4.22 billion baht, Stryker tanks worth 1.02 billion baht and an airplane priced at 1.35 billion baht.
In addition, he said, the air force also plans to purchase light combat aircrafts worth 4.5 billion baht, in addition to its 1.47-billion-baht space project.
"Why didn't the prime minister cut the three armed forces' budgets, and why do we need two new submarines from China?" he said.
A source in the army said Mr Yutthapong was mistaken -- the attack helicopters were purchased using the 2021 budget, while the aircraft was purchased with the 2020 budget.
Meanwhile, a Royal Thai Air Force source said the aircraft procurement plans Mr Yutthapong listed has actually been ongoing for some time, and the air force had already purchased eight aircraft.
The source said the air force does indeed have plans to purchase two more satellites -- NAPA 3 and NAPA 4 -- after NAPA 1 was launched in late 2020.
However, the submarine purchase from China was agreed two years ago.
The arms purchases are expected to be among the topics that the opposition will focus on during a censure debate tentatively scheduled for next month.
Mr Yutthaphong was appointed by Pheu Thai to lead the debate.