No backroom deal in granting MotoGP licence fee, says Prime Minister
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said there was no backroom deal in the cabinet’s decision to grant Bt300 million as the licence fee for MotoGP to be held in Buriram from next year.
“Isn’t it good to host a world class event to attract foreigners?” Prayut asked during his weekly press briefing. “Where else should we organise it? A racing circuit is existing [Buriram International Circuit] so investments should go there,” the premier said.
The cabinet’s approval to bid for one of the biggest racing events received mixed reactions from the Thai public last week. While some believed that organising such an event would boost tourism, others questioned the wisdom of Thailand investing such a huge amount of money when the economy is trying to get back on track.
Prayut denied that deputy prime minister and transport minister Arkhom Termpittayapisith, who put the budget proposal on the table, has any close connections with influential figures in motorsport. Asked from where the multimillion budget will be allocated and how related deals with private sectors carried out, the premier refused to answer.
