Arms budget ‘intact’ as more suffer

Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charassathien has asked the government to slash the military’s budget for arms purchases to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Yutthapong yesterday asked why all arms procurements projects in the 2022 fiscal year remain intact, despite the increasing number of people experiencing economic hardship because of the pandemic.

He highlighted a number of procurement projects, including the navy’s plan to purchase two submarines worth 25 billion baht from China and the army’s plan to procure two attack helicopters worth 4.22 billion baht, Stryker tanks worth 1.02 billion baht and an airplane priced at 1.35 billion baht.

In addition, he said, the air force also plans to purchase light combat aircrafts worth 4.5 billion baht, in addition to its 1.47-billion-baht space project.

“Why didn’t the prime minister cut the three armed forces’…