An anti-corruption watchdog has raised concerns that a draft Prime Minister's Office announcement intended to ensure transparent and independent scrutiny of state procurement projects may not be transparent itself.
The government is pushing for a draft ministerial announcement authorising the government to appoint outside observers to monitor state projects.
But critics noted the government would be selective who it chose to observe the projects.
Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan to chair a committee to draft a Prime Minister's office announcement to allow outside observers to monitor procurement projects.
The draft announcement is now being vetted by the Council of State, the government's legal arm. When scrutiny is finished, the draft announcement will be forwarded to cabinet for approval, Mr Chadchat said.
He said the prime minister has emphasised measures to prevent corruption in state projects and so supports external monitoring.
Mr Chadchat said anti-corruption watchdogs had asked to monitor or observe bidding procedures for the government's megaprojects.
The 2-trillion-baht infrastructure loan and 350-billion-baht water management schemes are at the forefront of the watchdogs' interest.
Mr Chadchat said enforcement of the announcement could begin with a Transport Ministry project to procure 3,183 natural gas-fuelled passenger buses, worth about 13 billion baht. The cabinet approved the procurement in principle on April 10.
Mr Chadchat said no laws or regulations allow for the monitoring or observation of the bidding process.
He said the new regulation would also pave the way for "integrity pacts", allowing for independent scrutiny at all stages of government projects.
Contractors undertaking transport infrastructure projects will be required to sign the pacts.
However, Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) chairman Pramon Sutivong, voiced concern the announcement may turn out being the opposite of what the ACT had hoped.
Mr Pramon said the credibility and independence of those selected by the government to observe the procurement procedures of the state projects could be called into question.
The regulation could also be exploited by state authorities as an excuse to sideline other independent watchdogs, Mr Pramon said.
He said the ACT had come up with the proposal to allow independent observers to scrutinise the bidding process of state projects, but the prime minister had assigned Mr Niwatthamrong to oversee the draft without seeking opinions from the ACT.
He said he submitted letters opposing the announcement to Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Mr Niwatthamrong and Mr Chadchat last week.
Meanwhile, the Thai Journalists Association yesterday held a seminar on the 2-trillion-baht borrowing bill.
Sumeth Ongkittikul, an academic from the Thailand Development Research Institute, said several projects, including the high-speed train routes, still lack environmental impact assessments and feasibility studies.
If such a lack of progress continues, the high-speed train and double-track rail projects are unlikely to be completed within the next seven years as projected by the government, Mr Sumeth said.
Rangsit University vice-rector Anusorn Tamajai questioned the merits of the high-speed train project during the Bangkok Post Forum on Thursday.
Mr Anusorn said it may not be viable as most Thais still cannot afford to pay expensive fares.
Pariya Khampeerayot, head of sales at the infrastructure and cities sector of Siemens AG's Thai unit, said Thailand is trailing behind Malaysia and Singapore in terms of rail transport.
Mr Pariya agreed with the high-speed train routes, saying they should help lower transportation costs.
"I have no doubt about the financial viability of the project but what concerns me is whether they can get support from every party," he said.
Chananyarak Phetcharat, managing director for Indochina region of DHL Express International (Thailand), said the proposed transport projects are needed for regional connectivity.
However, she said the opportunities and growth generated by these projects must be clearly declared and quantified.
Without this, she said, there might be reluctance to endorse the projects, given their huge cost.