Thai special senate committee to review casino bill
The first meeting is due to take place on April 23.
Thailand.- A special Senate committee has reportedly been tasked to review the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand. According to the Bangkok Post, the first meeting will take place on April 23.
The panel initially comprised 35 members following a proposal from senator Sorachat Wichaya Suwanphrom. It has been reduced to 34 members due to senator Premsak Piayura‘s resignation. The meeting will focus on appointing a chairperson, outlining the framework for the study and nominating a replacement for Piayura. The committee has 180 days to complete its work.
The committee includes 12 members from outside the senate. According to an unnamed source, efforts are being made to appoint an external candidate with ties to a political family in Buri Ram as chair. This has led to concerns regarding the study’s impartiality amid rising tensions between the governing Pheu Thai Party and the Bhumjaithai Party.
Earlier this week, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he is confident that the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand will “easily” pass its first reading in the House of Representatives. The bill was expected to be debated in Parliament on April 9, but the debate was postponed due to the issues of US tariffs and last month’s earthquake. It will be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session.
Shinawatra said there had been differing views but insisted these were not severe enough to threaten the bill’s progress. defended the bill. Reiterating the opinion of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, he said certain groups were spreading misinformation about the proposed legislation.
