Democrat Party Exposes Alleged Rigged Bidding in SME Platform Project Involving OSMEP
The Democrat Party has raised concerns over alleged lack of transparency and outside interference in OSMEP's SME platform development project, following Silpakorn University's disputed rejection.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thai SMEs face high commission fees and data loss relying on foreign platforms.
- Silpakorn University's proposal was rejected under strict criteria hinting at rigged bidding.
- External individuals reportedly pressured and threatened university officials, prompting police action.
- The party plans to bring the case to parliamentary committees to demand accountability from OSMEP.
Korn and Kardeep from the Democrat Party have revealed irregularities regarding a state-funded platform project intended to support small business owners and online merchants, overseen by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP). They pointed out that Thai entrepreneurs have long suffered disadvantages from depending on foreign platforms, specifically regarding soaring commission fees (GP) and the surrender of valuable commercial data to foreign entities.
While the party supports utilizing state budgets to establish a homegrown platform, OSMEP's selection process for project operators has sparked serious doubts regarding its transparency. Notably, Silpakorn University, a state educational institution that submitted a proposal, was dismissed using petty and unreasonable criteria, raising suspicions of rigged specifications designed to favor specific bidders.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Developing national platforms to support local SMEs is a critical step in reducing the monopoly of multinational e-commerce giants. However, absolute transparency in public procurement and academic partnerships is vital to ensure taxpayers' money is utilized effectively without falling victim to conflicts of interest or political interference.
Beyond the rejection of the university's proposal, alarming incidents involving external individuals—who are not official OSMEP staff—exercising unauthorized power to negotiate terms with various universities have emerged. When Silpakorn University filed a formal appeal following proper protocols, university officials faced intimidation and threats to force them to withdraw the appeal, resulting in official police complaints being filed. Such actions are deemed completely unacceptable among state agencies.
พรรคฯมองว่าเรื่องนี้มีคำถามที่ต้องการคำตอบ เพราะงบประมาณแผ่นดิน ซึ่งมาจากภาษีประชาชนนับวันยิ่งมีจำกัด การใช้วงเงินงบประมาณจึงต้องเป็นไปอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ และปลอดจากการทุจริตคอร์รัปชั่น เราจะใช้อำนาจฝ่ายนิติบัญญัตินำเรื่องนี้เข้าสู่การพิจารณาของคณะกรรมาธิการ
Korn
Meanwhile, Kardeep expressed deep sorrow as a former university professor, stating her disappointment that an educational institution meant to cultivate honesty and integrity has faced severe interference from certain groups. The Democrat Party reiterated its commitment to clean politics and vowed to utilize parliamentary committee mechanisms to investigate the facts thoroughly and protect the best interests of taxpaying citizens.
Source: Matichon Politics
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