Move Forward Party (MFP) list-MP Rangsiman Rome has voiced his concerns that Thailand could be about to provide electricity and internet access to grey businesses based just over the border in Myanmar.
Mr Rangsiman, who is chairman of a House committee on state security, said Thailand might have in the past, through concessionaires, provided power supplies to suspected grey businesses in Myanmar, such as call centre gangs.
Mr Rangsiman voiced his concerns following a field inspection he conducted in Tak's Mae Sot district.
He said the government had cut the electricity network between Thailand and Shwe Kokko, a town in Myanmar's Myawaddy city, which currently relies on electricity generators.
However, negotiations are being held to reconnect the electricity network, he said, citing information from a source.
Mr Rangsiman said he is also worried that bad actors, such as call centre gangs in Myanmar, would be able to catch mobile phone signals from Thailand as there are about 60 telecommunication towers in the country facing towards Myawaddy.
He said his committee would also discuss the matter with the National Security Council (NSC) next Friday, and it expects to meet with the Foreign Affairs Ministry as well.
He said that he wants to hold discussions with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the country's major telecommunications companies to discuss whether certain telecommunication towers should be removed.
Mr Rangsiman also questioned domestic flights to and from Mae Sot, which have recently seen many Chinese passengers. He suspected their trips were connected to illicit businesses as the northwest district had no tourist attractions but was a gateway to Myawaddy.
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said on May 14 that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently cracked down on transnational crime operations near the Thai border by ordering agencies to cut cross-border electricity and water supplies.
The NBTC was also ordered to cut cross-border telephone signals and shift antennas to address cybercrime and call centre gangs, he said.
