Government finds itself backed into a corner on digital wallet scheme

The Thai government’s controversial plan to raise 500 billion baht through an off-budget loan for the digital wallet scheme has run into another roadblock.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) recently issued a warning that the scheme risked violating the Constitution and related laws and was vulnerable to corruption.

In January, the Council of State — the government’s legal advisory body — had also suggested thorough consultation with related agencies, and asked that the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act be followed before proposing a loan bill to Parliament.

A hot potato

In the run-up to the May general election last year, the Pheu Thai Party had pledged to implement the digital wallet scheme under which everyone aged 16 years and above would be given a one-time 10,000 baht handout for spending in a prescribed radius within six months.

The estimated…