Prawit crosses swords with Yingluck over state spending
Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan on Friday got involved in an online argument with former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over state spending, comparing the rice mortgage scheme to the submarine purchase.
Both rebuked each other, claiming the other have caused more damage to the state.
Yingluck questioned on Facebook whether the damage done to the state budget by the Prayut government’s submarine purchase was any different from her rice mortgage scheme, that she is facing charges under by the Prayut government.
Prawit responded saying that the money lost in Yingluck’s rice mortgage scheme could have purchased as many as 50 submarines.
He said instead of posting on Facebook, Yingluck should cooperate with officials and answer all the questions surrounding the scheme.
The Navy would hold a press conference on Monday to clarify all issues concerning the submarine purchase, Prawit said.
The Navy has proposed buying three submarines, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said it’s was the two purchases with one given as a free bonus.
The Cabinet has approved the purchase of one submarine, priced Bt13.5 billion. The total budget is set as Bt36 billion.
Questions have been raised over the need for the country to have submarines while the economy is sluggish.