Spend plan looks rushed

The government's 157-billion-baht economic stimulus plan is drawing mass attention and its share of critics.

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The government is to blame for the unwanted criticism because it has failed to convince the public that the huge budget will be spent wisely and transparently.

With ministries and state agencies now submitting proposals in a rush, the public is right to ask whether these projects deliver real value or simply throw money at familiar projects without solutions.

Among the top contenders for the funding is the Transport Ministry. Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit says his ministry has requested 56 billion baht, roughly 36% of the full package.

That includes about 4,000 projects from the Highways Department, worth 37.6 billion baht, and another 3,700 projects from the Rural Roads Department, totalling 17 billion baht. Projects under the departments, mostly for road construction, account for almost 98% of the total amount of the ministry's proposal.