Opposition applies heat over eastern pipeline bid

Pheu Thai Party says it will make transparency a key issue during a noconfidence debate expected in July in relation to the bidding for a major water project in the country’s eastern region.

The party’s deputy leader Yuttapong Charasathien said the transparency in the bidding for a concession to operate the main water transmission pipeline system for the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) will be stressed during the debate.

Mr Yuttapong first made his party’s intentions clear, in relation to the debate, on April 28 and echoed them again yesterday as the issue gained further media attention.

He alleged that the terms of reference for the bidding had been tweaked in favour of a winning bidder at the expense of the state.

On March 14, the Treasury Department named Vongsayam Korsang Co as the winning bidder of its concession to manage and operate the pipeline system with a quote of 25.6 billion baht.

Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Co, or East Water, has held the current concession since 1994.

Mr Yuttapong also said on Wednesday that Pheu Thai would delay petitioning the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the bidding process. The move came after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday put the brakes on signing the contract pending a probe to ensure transparency.

Mr Yuttapong said the party would delay the petition until after the noconfidence debate expected after parliament reconvenes later this month. However, the party also asked a House committee on budget spending to look into the issue, he said.

Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said yesterday that Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and his deputy Santi Promphat have been added to a list of potential targets in a planned no-confidence debate. Dr Cholnan said the ministers may face grilling over the bidding process to find a contractor to operate the water transmission system.

He said the opposition’s working panel chaired by Sutin Klungsang, chief opposition whip, is gathering information to decide if other cabinet ministers will face the no-confidence motion. He was confident the debate will pack a punch.

Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office, said the bidding process was carried out by the Treasury Department and it had nothing to do with the EEC Policy Committee.