The ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has no objection to calls for a special House committee to be formed to scrutinise the Covid-19 economic recovery spending, said chief government whip Wirach Ratanasate on Monday.
The issue has gained momentum after at least six members of the coalition Democrat Party said on the weekend that they have filed an urgent motion on the setting up of the committee.
The motion was forwarded to the House of Representatives during the last lap of the deliberation of three executive decrees designed to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The decrees sailed through the House on Sunday.
The Democrats reasoned the spending, especially the 400-billion-baht fund to help with the economic recovery in the aftermath, requires close monitoring to ward off corruption.
Democrat MP for Trang Sathit Wongnongtoey said on Saturday he and five fellow Democrats had signed the motion which was also supported by some MPs from the Bhumjaithai, another coalition party.
Mr Wirach said yesterday he had learned that the motion has been submitted and that the PPRP does not oppose it.
However, Suchart Chomklin, head MP of the PPRP, said earlier that he disagreed with having the scrutiny committee, saying anti-graft outlets such as the State Audit Office and the National Anti-Corruption Commission should instead follow up on the spending.
Mr Wirach said any disagreement to the committee was merely a personal view and expected the panel could be up and running by June 10 or 11.
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai confirmed the motion has been lodged although it has not been listed on the deliberation agenda.
Mr Sathit earlier said his party was concerned the decree governing the 400-billion-baht spending contained few details and the economic recovery projects could be liable to collusion by builders and corruption without scrutiny from the House.
He also denied the issue will play into the hands of the opposition which is also urging more accountability over the borrowing.
The need for scrutiny outweighed any partisan interest, he said.
During the five-day debate on the three decrees, the opposition accused the government of poor oversight and opening loopholes for spending irregularities.