On June 15, Ms. Phakamon Nunanan, list MP and deputy spokesperson of the Prachachon Party, commented on the case of ฿12 million in cash found near a trash bin, later claimed by Mr. Taweewat Saengkaew. She said the case deserves public attention as it reveals how national resources are funneled into the hands of private capitalists. While such issues were previously hidden, like the collapsed State Audit Office building or overpriced Social Security building purchases, they eventually surface.
Phakamon questioned how Mr. Taweewat secured influential roles across multiple independent agencies and played a key legal advisory role favoring major business groups. This includes his position as an advisor and subcommittee member at the NBTC during the controversial True-DTAC merger, which reduced telecom competition to just two major providers. Prior to this, he was involved in the high-speed rail project linking three airports—now under a major conglomerate.
She added that Taweewat also held a role in the NACC (anti-corruption body) but resigned from all positions following the cash scandal. Initial financial tracing suggested the money might have originated from a company backing the controversial Chana Industrial Estate project in Songkhla. If verified, the money may have been intended to garner local support for a widely opposed project.
Phakamon criticized the questionable land acquisition in three coastal sub-districts of Chana, where politicians, land officials, and the project-owning company are alleged to have colluded. The DSI has reportedly uncovered irregularities, but no clear progress has been made.
She noted that the Chana project was previously scrutinized by the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, revealing ties between powerful local politicians, large corporate donors to a former protest movement, and military-linked networks. These forces allegedly collaborated to inflate land prices and seize resources, sparking ongoing local resistance.
Phakamon warned that southern Thailand is being flooded with so-called “development” projects, such as the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), likely to be pushed after the new parliamentary session opens on July 3. If passed, it could lead to mass land expropriation and urban rezoning favoring industrial investors at the cost of local communities.
She emphasized the South’s long-standing economic neglect and called for inclusive development based on existing resources, not top-down megaprojects serving outside investors.
The ฿12 million scandal, she concluded, is just one puzzle piece exposing a broader system where opportunists exploit public institutions for personal gain. She urged citizens to remain vigilant and involved, asserting their right to participate in national and regional development processes.