Bangkok: Anutin Charnvirakul has addressed the ongoing controversy regarding the alleged budget cuts for flood relief in Hat Yai, asserting that the central budget decisions rest with the Prime Minister.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul clarified the situation in an interview concerning the rumored budget reductions for flood mitigation in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. He emphasized that the Prime Minister holds the authority over central budget allocations. Anutin questioned the logic behind cutting funds if meetings were being held to address the issue. He pointed to a meeting of the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee for Economic Problem Solving (JPC) at Government House on July 8th, which aimed to tackle the flooding issues affecting Hat Yai and four other southern provinces annually.
Anutin reiterated that the allocation of the budget and the determination of which agencies receive funds are decisions made by the government. He stressed the importance of the Prime Minister's role in deciding where central government funds can be used most effectively, reinforcing that such decisions fall under the head of government's authority.