Governor confronted with controversy due to emergency budget issues
The governor of Ubon Ratchathani, Adisak Noisuwan, has been transferred to an inactive post at the Interior Ministry, pending the results of an official investigation into his handling of a 100-million-baht emergency fund.
The emergency allocation was meant to help residents affected by the ongoing conflict with Cambodia, which has resulted in displacement and hardship for many people in the region.
According to a report by a House committee, only 55,600 baht out of the 100 million baht had been disbursed by the provincial administration under Adisak's oversight. This is considered an abnormally low amount, given the crisis, and has prompted criticism from Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich and Members of Parliament.
Neighboring provinces, such as Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Buri Ram, have already disbursed millions of baht in similar funds. The low spending could not be explained by regulation constraints, as confirmed by the Interior Ministry.
A total of 120,000 meals, valued at 1.2 million baht, were prepared through a royal mobile kitchen, while supplies worth 1.6 million baht from the Thai Red Cross have been distributed. The administration spent six million baht to cover food, shelter, and survival kits for evacuees through this mechanism.
Public and royal donations have also helped cover relief efforts. However, no new facts about the investigation or the transfer of Adisak were mentioned in this paragraph.
Adisak has stated that initial relief efforts were covered by local administrative organizations' budgets. He also mentioned that 4.7 million baht will be disbursed on Aug 12 for property damage and livestock losses.
The transfer of Adisak is pending the results of an official investigation. No public confirmation has been made whether Adisak will be permanently removed or if further disciplinary action will be taken; a formal order regarding the investigation and his status was to be issued imminently.
Clear guidelines were issued to all governors in a July 29 meeting with the Comptroller General's Department and related agencies. The House committee on administration revealed this information on Wednesday.
- The low disbursement of the emergency fund under Adisak's oversight has sparked politics and critique from Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich, Members of Parliament, and the general news, as neighboring provinces have already disbursed millions of baht in similar funds.
- The ongoing investigation into Adisak's handling of the 100-million-baht emergency fund and his subsequent transfer to an inactive post at the Interior Ministry is a matter of policy-and-legislation, as clear guidelines were issued to all governors following a meeting with the Comptroller General's Department and related agencies, and the House committee on administration has revealed this information.
