Srettha Thavisin's dismissal as prime minister has plunged the much-touted digital wallet scheme into uncertainty, with the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the cabinet giving mixed signals over the flagship policy's future.
Those who have registered for the 10,000-baht handout have also voiced concerns about their personal information being stolen and/or abused.
Mr Srettha's dismissal by a Constitutional Court order on Wednesday prompted the dismissal of the entire cabinet, leaving ministers in a caretaker capacity.
The digital wallet policy's future now rests in the hands of the new government, with Pheu Thai pushing its leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra or former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri as Mr Srettha's replacement.
On Thursday, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said any changes to the digital handout scheme must be approved by the new cabinet.
He was responding to reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, widely considered the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, had informed coalition party leaders that the digital handout scheme, a key election pledge of the ruling party, would be scrapped.
The party leaders were notified of the change during an urgent meeting with Thaksin at his residence in Bangkok, shortly after Mr Srettha was dismissed as prime minister by the Constitutional Court for appointing ex-convict Pichit Chuenban to the cabinet. The meeting was reportedly called to discuss Pheu Thai nominating Mr Chaikasem to succeed Mr Srettha.
"We need to wait for the new government to be in place and deliver its policy statement. Only then will we know for certain if there will be any change [to the digital handout plan]," Mr Julapun said. He admitted Mr Srettha's exit will delay the implementation of the scheme and other key projects. Pheu Thai will need to decide whether to carry on with the handout programme, he said.
Meanwhile in parliament on Thursday, Democrat Party MP for Phatthalung, Romtham Kham-urak, said members of the public who have signed up for the handout are worried about the safety of their personal information if the scheme, which was set to launch in November, is discontinued. He urged acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai to guarantee that the data won't end up in the wrong hands.
When asked about the future of the digital wallet scheme, caretaker Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said the decision was not his to make.
Pakorn Nilprapan, secretary-general of the Council of State, the government's legal arm, said that as a matter of principle, the scheme should be paused in the wake of Mr Srettha's dismissal.
However, Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong maintained the digital money handout will proceed, saying the party has an unwavering commitment to implement its flagship policy.
He said none of Pheu Thai's coalition partners disagreed with the policy.
Meanwhile, many people interviewed by the Bangkok Post said they had lost faith in the wallet scheme and doubted it would resume under a new prime minister.
Nakhon Ratchasima resident Lert Abphakwan said he does not think the scheme will see the light of day, adding that it stood no chance of materialising from the start.
Arnon Inpanpanao, a motorcycle taxi driver in Korat, said the handout plan should go ahead but noted most people would prefer cash to digital money.
"I feel bad for those who bought new smartphones just to register for the digital wallet scheme," he said.
In Buri Ram, many residents said they are wary of the scheme's future and the possibility that their personal data might fall into the wrong hands. These include local vendors Ben, 59, and Ya, 61, who said they had hoped the scheme would ease their household debt.
In Khon Kaen's Muang district, Samrerng Rodthong, 46, said the scheme will disappear along with Mr Srettha.
In Si Sa Ket, Thatchanok Pimthong, 52, of Wang Hin district, said the scheme was sketchy from the start, as it looked to benefit large businesses over small vendors like her. "Policies may come across as attractive, but they are useless if they are not practical," she said.
