Troubled “Digital “Wallet” scheme delayed

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat admitted for the first time today that the launch of the digital wallet scheme, which was set for May, will be delayed. He vowed, nonetheless, that the government will proceed with the project.

Julapun had repeatedly insisted that the scheme, which was at the heart of his Pheu Thai party’s election campaign, would be able to start in May as promised.

The government wants to consider all information carefully, especially the Council of State’s legal opinion on the government’s plan to issue a bill to authorise the borrowing of Bt500 billion to fund the scheme, Julapun said.

“The government has asked the Council of State about the bill and it has provided legal observation, but not a “yes” or a “no”, because it is not its duty to grant an authority. As such, the national digital wallet panel has the duty to listen to the…