Concerns Raised Over 13.6 Billion Baht Digital Ministry Budget

On September 8, 2026, during the parliamentary review of the 2026 budget bill, Democrat Party list MP Karndee Leopairote raised concerns regarding the 13.625 billion baht budget allocated to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES). According to Khaosod Online, Karndee noted that the special committee reviewing the bill reduced the ministry's budget by only 25.8 million baht, or 0.19%, which she described as significantly lower than the average reduction applied to other ministries.

A primary point of contention is the government's 'Cloud First' policy. Karndee argued that the centralized approach to cloud services has led to increased costs rather than savings, suggesting that the state could face long-term computer rental liabilities reaching 50 billion baht. She also highlighted potential budget redundancies, specifically noting overlapping expenditures related to the Meteorological Department's war room project.

For residents and expatriates, this debate highlights ongoing discussions regarding government digital infrastructure spending and the efficiency of public service digitization. While the budget is currently under legislative scrutiny, the long-term financial impact of these digital policies remains to be confirmed. The government has yet to provide a detailed rebuttal regarding the projected 50 billion baht liability or the specific concerns regarding project redundancies.