The opposition has urged the government not to use its parliamentary majority to block the formation of a special House committee to monitor spending under the 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree, citing the need for greater scrutiny.
The motion to establish an ad hoc committee will be tabled for debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Parit Wacharasindhu, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, said on Monday.
Mr Parit, who also chairs the opposition whip committee, said the proposed panel is needed to examine spending under the 400-billion-baht borrowing decree, whose approval remains pending before the Constitutional Court.
"Government spending has already begun, so spending must be monitored," he said.
Mr Parit said similar committees had been established to scrutinise emergency borrowing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We hope the government will not use its House majority to block the committee, as happened with the proposal to set up a panel to study the land bridge project last week," he said.
"If there is nothing lacking in transparency, there should be no reason not to allow scrutiny," he said.
Sirikanya Tansakun, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, also backed the proposal, saying urgent oversight is needed as the government continues to approve projects financed by the borrowing package.
She said funds have already begun reaching the public through the Thais Help Thais Plus scheme and top-ups to state welfare cards, while project approvals have continued through government screening committees with limited checks and balances.
Ms Sirikanya said that lawmakers from coalition parties had previously supported similar oversight committees.
"There is no reason why a special committee should not be set up this time as well," she said.
