Bangkok: The opposition has raised significant concerns regarding the budget allocation for the Police Aviation Division, highlighting a debt of 1 billion baht and questioning the whereabouts of potential kickbacks. They have called for the second reading committee to thoroughly examine all maintenance documents to prevent further preventable tragedies.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Panida Mongkolsawas, a Samut Prakan MP from the Prachachon Party, scrutinized the budget allocated to the Royal Thai Police, particularly the 10 billion baht set aside for equipment purchases. She questioned the allocation of 537 million baht for acquiring 19,424 items of weapons equipment, each costing less than one million baht. Ms. Panida sought clarity on the type of weapons procured and their intended missions, especially since there appears to be a surplus of guns from previous purchases.
Ms. Panida further addressed the 950 million baht budget earmarked for aircraft maintenance. Information from the Thai Air Force indicates that this budget is intended for Thai Airways International Public Company Limited to maintain the Police Aviation Division's aircraft. Should Thai Airways be unable to fulfill this role, private companies or state enterprises would be engaged for repairs. However, the consistent annual budget of 950 million baht has raised suspicions of possible financial misappropriations. In 2020, Mr. Rangsiman Rome highlighted similar concerns, revealing that maintenance costs had tripled the budgeted amount, leading to a debt of 1,000 million baht. Currently, 11 aircraft remain unrepaired, with missing spare parts, raising questions about the operational status of the Police Aviation Division's fleet. Ms. Panida, drawing on her experience as a former flight attendant, underscored the critical importance of flight safety and called for a comprehensive investigation into these ongoing i ssues.
Despite the Prime Minister's directive for an inspection of all Police Aviation Division aircraft, Ms. Panida insists that further action is necessary. She urges the committee to review all flight-related documents, including aircraft usage and maintenance history, to determine how the Royal Thai Police utilized billions in budget funds. Should corruption be uncovered, she demands accountability to ensure no further loss of life due to preventable causes.
Ms. Panida also criticized the inefficiency in budget allocation within the police system, pointing out the lack of mechanisms to prevent small-scale profiteering. She argued that the Prime Minister has failed to manage the police effectively, resulting in inefficient budget utilization. She advocates for a budgetary overhaul to address the systemic issues within the Khaki sector.