People's Party exposes local solar light overpricing
MP Itthiphol critiques the 2027 fiscal budget, revealing local administrative solar light procurement priced up to 10 times higher via innovation lists.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- People's Party MP Itthiphol Choltharsiri debated the 2027 budget bill for the Ministry of Interior.
- Exposed local government solar light procurement through innovation accounts priced 4 to 10 times higher.
- Highlighted regulatory loopholes in innovation lists that legally permit specification locking.
During the House of Representatives meeting on September 9, 2026, chaired by Sophon Sarum, lawmakers continued their third consecutive day of deliberating the second and third readings of the fiscal year 2027 annual expenditure budget bill, totaling 3.78 trillion baht. The session witnessed intensive scrutiny from opposition and coalition members alike regarding various ministry allocations.
A critical point of discussion arose at 10:10 AM when Itthiphol Choltharsiri, a Member of Parliament for Khon Kaen from the People's Party, took the floor during the debate on Section 20 concerning the Ministry of Interior. His speech focused sharply on longstanding irregularities and procurement issues plaguing local government spending across the country.
The budget debate during the second and third readings represents a vital legislative check on government spending. While Thailand's Thai Innovation List was originally established to promote domestic research and technological advancement, it has frequently faced criticism from watchdogs and lawmakers for enabling state agencies to purchase products at inflated prices while legally bypassing standard competitive bidding procedures.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The opposition lawmaker revealed alarming details regarding solar street light procurement projects managed by local administrative organizations utilizing the Thai innovation registry. He pointed out that these projects carried price tags ranging from 4 to 10 times higher than actual market values, raising serious questions about fiscal responsibility and potential favoritism toward specific suppliers.
Beyond the exorbitant pricing, Itthiphol further disclosed that the mechanisms embedded within the innovation accounting system effectively create legal loopholes, allowing local authorities to tailor product specifications for specific vendors while remaining fully compliant with existing bureaucratic regulations.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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