A committee of the Thai Senate tasked with studying the national government’s proposed policy for entertainment complexes, each to contain a casino, plans to invite the country’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra (pictured in a file photo), to appear before it on July 17 for “clarification on key policy questions”.
That is according to a Tuesday report in the Bangkok Post newspaper. In case the premier opts not to attend in person, the committee has prepared questions that can be answered in writing, said on Monday Senator Veerapun Suvannamai, chairman of the committee, as cited by the Bangkok Post.
On Monday it emerged that a formal reading of the entertainment complex bill – due in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Thailand’s parliament – is to be delayed by “about one month”, from a previously-mentioned date of July 9.
In the latest developments relating to the queries of the Senate committee, Senator Veerapun outlined that private-sector representatives had mentioned to the committee information about the casino-legalisation initiative, including that up to five entertainment complexes were being planned by the government.
Senator Veerapun was also cited saying that such representatives had also mentioned details of revenue estimates and business operations for such venues, but that government representatives had not been able to provide similar clarification.
The senator was directly quoted as stating: “The committee does not compel the premier to appear and has no intention of invoking legal powers to summon her.”
He added: “It is not a problem if the premier declines. What we expect is a response to the questions that are submitted alongside the invitation letter.”
Senator Veerapun further stated that his committee on entertainment complexes planned to present its preliminary findings at a Senate meeting on July 7. It would then wait for the premier’s response to its questions before submitting a final report to the Senate by August.
The news outlet said questions to be put to Ms Shinawatra were likely to include casino-operation revenue forecasts and the number of entertainment complexes planned. Other queries covered the level of Thai-visitor volume and Thai-citizen that would be required to support the viability of entertainment complexes with casinos.
From information made public so far, there would be no ban on Thai citizens using such casinos, but there might be a wealth requirement.
The Bangkok Post said other concerns of the Senate committee included: money laundering controls; economic risks; tourism impacts; investor influence; and whether the bill should be renamed, “for transparency” purposes, “to clearly focus on the casino” aspect.
On Tuesday, the prime minister was also set to face an unrelated challenge to her leadership, due to be discussed by the country’s Constitutional Court, which has the power to dismiss a sitting premier.
The court will decide whether to accept a petition accusing Ms Shinawatra of serious ethical violations in relation to a leaked audio of a phone conversation last month between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
In another development made public on Tuesday, Ms Shinawatra has taken on the dual role of prime minister and culture minister in a new lineup for the cabinet of her coalition government. The step had been gazetted on Monday, according to the Bangkok Post.
The news outlet said – citing “political watchers” – that the move might be Ms Shinawatra’s attempt to stay in the cabinet if she is “temporarily relieved from duty” as prime minister by the Constitutional Court.
