Thailand’s House of Representatives voted by a large majority on Wednesday to approve a cabinet-requested withdrawal of the Entertainment Complex Bill that had aimed to legalise casino-resort business in that country.
Despite 253 votes in the lower house of parliament in favour of the measure’s withdrawal, and no abstentions, there were however 65 votes opposing the bill’s withdrawal following a two-hour debate. That is according to The Nation news outlet, which said that one of those that spoke opposing the bill’s withdrawal was an MP actually against casino legalisation.
Parit Wacharasindhu, a list MP from the People’s Party, indicated the current coalition government’s move was to gain time and future support for such a legalisation measure.
Mr Parit suggested that government claims about economic benefits of permitting casinos had not been accompanied by clear information regarding possible economic and social impacts of such a move.
He added his party would continue to oppose casino legalisation.
The Bangkok Post reported on Wednesday comment from Anutin Charnvirakul, a former interior minister and leader of the now-opposition Bhumjaithai Party, which withdrew from the coalition in June.
Mr Anutin referred to what he termed a recent sharp decline in arrivals of tourists from China. He suggested the Pheu Thai Party – a leading element in the government – had not sufficiently heeded warnings from China’s leader, President Xi Jinping, regarding social dangers of legalising casinos.
Mr Xi had made the comments to Thailand’s then-prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, during an official visit she made to China in February.
Ms Shinawatra was suspended from office on July 1 pending an investigation into a June phone call with Hun Sen, a former prime minister of Cambodia, that was subsequently leaked.
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai assumed the role of caretaker prime minister on July 3.
