Thai Parliament passes US$93b budget as growth outlook dims

BANGKOK: Thailand’s parliament approved the nation’s annual budget that seeks to ramp up spending on tackling the Covid-19 outbreak while slashing outlays for defense and education with the government revenue coming under pressure from a worsening growth outlook.

The 3.1 trillion baht ($93 billion) spending plan for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 received the backing of 257 lawmakers. A total of 189 voted against it and four abstained after a four-day debate, according to the results of a parliamentary voting on Sunday. The budget outlay is 5.8% less than the 3.29 trillion baht for this year and pegs the budget deficit at 700 billion baht.

The passage of the budget came amid growing criticisms and public protests against the government’s handling of the pandemic that has seen cases surpass 1…