Thailand’s parliament could discuss “by April 9” the Entertainment Complex Bill for legalising casino resorts in that nation, reported the Bangkok Post on Monday, citing the Thai government’s chief whip, Wisut Chainarun.
Thailand’s cabinet approved on Thursday (March 27) the latest draft of the country’s Entertainment Complex Bill, but it still needs to be debated in the National Assembly.
In his Sunday remarks, as cited by the media outlet, Mr Wisut said parliament in the Thai capital Bangkok (pictured) was awaiting news on when it would receive the bill for review.
Mr Wisut is a member of parliament (MP) from the Pheu Thai Party, which currently leads a coalition government. He said if the bill didn’t arrive “in time” for parliamentary review on Thursday this week (April 3), it would in likelihood be considered a week later, on April 9.
Mr Wisut suggested coalition MPs were likely to give the bill the “go-ahead”, though talks with the opposition on the subject have not been held.
The Bangkok Post reported on Sunday that a network of “100” civil society organisations had criticised the Thai government, claiming it had hurried the deliberation process on the bill. That was by pushing the lower chamber – the House of Representatives – to begin reviewing it before the current parliamentary session ends on April 11.
The media outlet said the civil groups had vowed to take “legal action” on the matter, adding that Thursday’s cabinet approval had disregarded concerns expressed by parliamentarians, academics and members of the public.
The cabinet’s nod for the casino legalisation bill came a day after the country’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, survived a no-confidence vote in parliament.
