Key points:
- Senate committee to finalise study plan and form sub-panels on 2 May
- Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra may be invited to appear on 15 May
- Study to assess economic and social impacts over a 180-day period
As reported by Bangkok Post, the Senate committee tasked with evaluating the casino-entertainment complex bill may invite Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to provide clarification during a forthcoming session.
Speaking on Wednesday, committee Chairman Senator Veerapun Suvannamai stated that the second committee meeting, scheduled for Thursday 8 May, would focus on establishing a framework for the study and forming sub-committees. He dismissed reports suggesting the Prime Minister would attend the session, noting that the agenda had not yet been finalised.
“I do not know how such information was leaked. We have not confirmed the agenda,” said Veerapun. However, he indicated that invitations to senior Government officials, including the Prime Minister or relevant ministers, may be considered for the meeting on 15 May.
The Senate committee’s review of the proposed bill is expected to last 180 days. According to committee Spokesman Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, at least two sub-committees will be established to analyse the bill’s economic and social implications.
The bill, which proposes legalising casinos within designated entertainment complexes, was originally set for a first reading in the House of Representatives on 9 April. However, amid growing opposition and concern over the bill’s ethical implications, the Government deferred its consideration to the next parliamentary session, beginning 2 July.
Critics have raised questions over the pace at which the Government sought to advance the legislation, warning that continued efforts without broader consensus could risk breaching parliamentary norms. The Senate committee’s study is viewed as a key step in determining whether the initiative can proceed with wider political and public backing.
