The government's crime suppression and anti-corruption agencies will meet on Monday to work out an action plan to deal with suspected corruption in state projects, in particular the rice pledging scheme.
The move came amid the prospect that alleged irregularities in various government projects, including the rice price subsidy scheme and flood prevention projects, will be the main issues the opposition Democrats will focus on in the coming censure debate against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and senior police from nine provinces will meet on Monday to review anti-graft operations, DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said yesterday.
The meeting of the three agencies will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung.
A DSI source said Ms Yingluck has assigned Mr Chalerm to oversee the government's efforts in tackling irregularities in the crop subsidy programme.
Ms Yingluck's order comes after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) sent a letter to the government warning about loopholes in the crop pledging policy, the source said.
The source added that the prime minister's concerns are growing now that the Commerce Ministry's efforts to curb irregularities in the rice pledging programme appear futile.
According the source, rice farmers continue to be taken advantage of by rice millers who use rigged weight and moisture measuring scales.
Some traders are said to have smuggled rice from neighbouring countries and registered it in the pledging scheme.
``The prime minister is concerned about losses that may have resulted from corruption,'' the source said.
Mr Tarit said police will act as the core unit to curb irregularities, with the DSI in a supporting role.
He said the agency has so far opened an investigation into one case related to rice pledging. It involves alleged smuggling of rice from Cambodia via Sa Kaeo province for use in the rice subsidy programme in Nakhon Nayok.
PACC secretary-general Dusadee Arayawut said mobile units have been set up to inspect rice mills accused of exploiting rice pledging and legal action will be taken against rice mill operators found to have swindled rice farmers.
According to Pol Col Dusadee, PACC investigators have asked the Land Transport Department to supply weight scales for police to use during inspections.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party has urged Ms Yingluck to prepare for a no-confidence motion, likely to be launched during the current House session.
Democrat Party MP Thepthai Senpong said the opposition has not yet set a date for the censure debate. However, Ms Yingluck would have to answer for a number of issues, including alleged graft and mismanagement in the rice pledging scheme.
He said the opposition is not in a rush to begin the censure debate because the current House session lasts for four months. Democrat members have been instructed to gather information.
``Even if the government reshuffles the cabinet to get rid of ministers responsible [for mismanagement], the prime minister can't escape,'' he said.
In a related development, Somkiat Makcayathorn, chairman of the Thai Rice Packers Association, said packers face a shortage of quality Hom Mali fragrant rice. He said operators are short of supplies because the government has not yet sold off its Hom Mali stocks.
``The quality of the stockpiled rice will deteriorate over time and the government may not get the price it expects,'' Mr Somkiat said.