A Thai opposition lawmaker has called for a fundamental restructuring of the payment terms for the government’s TH-AI Passport project, arguing that the state should only pay for actual usage rather than committing to fixed lump-sum contracts.
Atthawich Suwanbhakdi, a member of parliament, stated that shifting to a pay-per-use model would maximize benefits for both the government and the public.
The project has already drawn scrutiny for its budgetary implications, with earlier reports highlighting a 30% surge in AI-related spending within the FY70 budget proposal.
He explicitly warned against blanket payment structures, asserting that such arrangements fail to deliver adequate value for money.
The intervention comes as the TH-AI Passport Phase 2 proposal is set to enter the parliament on June 29.
The project has already drawn scrutiny for its budgetary implications, with earlier reports highlighting a 30% surge in AI-related spending within the FY70 budget proposal.
Critics have accused the government of allocating funds inefficiently, describing the budgeting approach as fragmented and reactive.