Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and provincial governors to launch an investigation into alleged corruption in the ministry's 22-billion-baht 9101 economic stimulus scheme.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said as there are complaints over the transparency of the project, the prime minister has instructed the ministry and provincial governors to launch a probe into the allegations and report their findings to the government as soon as possible.
"The government and the National Council for Peace and Order will definitely not allow any corruption to happen in the project. Officials both from the capital and provinces have been assigned to examine the matter and they have been told not to fear any influence," the spokesman said.
Any officials who are found to be involved in corruption or malpractice in the project will be punished without exception, he said.
In July, the cabinet approved a 22.8-billion-baht budget for the scheme, which is an initiative to finance 9,101 communities nationwide, each receiving a 2.5-million-baht investment to spur agricultural businesses.
Under the scheme, at least 500 farmers in each community will be selected to start businesses in eight areas, including community farming, fertiliser making, fishing and food production and processing. The money from the project will be used to make project participants professionally and financially secure.
According to the government, the project is not about handing out money but figuring out how to make sure the farmers can survive and succeed in their jobs.
The name of the project refers to His Majesty the King and the late King.
The number "9" in 9101 refers to the ninth reign of the late King Bhumibol, while "10" represents His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and "1" denotes the first year under his reign.
However, the project has received complaints from several areas over perceived irregularities, particularly concerning alleged false disbursements.
There have also been questions raised about "ghost accounts" with certain figures embellished leading to suspicions of corruption.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya previously promised to keep the 9101 scheme free of corruption.
He did, however, say that he was concerned about possible abuses of the budget.