The ministry will now jointly decide with the Finance Ministry tomorrow whether to delay bidding for the mass-transit project, the source said.

The meeting was scheduled after the JBIC informed the government that it was unable to help finance the construction of the Bang Yai-Bang Sue section of the Purple Line in Bangkok, as requested by the Thai government.

The JBIC might harbour concerns that the loan could tarnish the image of Tokyo in the eyes of the international community because the interim government was installed by coup-makers, the source said.

The JBIC was keen to work with Thailand but could strike a deal with the former Thaksin Shinawatra government because of several changes and adjustments in the mass-transit projects, the source added.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said that tomorrow, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um and Deputy Finance Minister Sommai Phasee would chair a meeting of agencies including the State Railway of Thailand, which is responsible for the Purple Line mass-transit project.

If the JBIC fails to approve loans by August according to the original schedule, tomorrow's meeting will discuss the possibility of proceeding without Japan's financial support. Theera said the government wanted to invite companies to participate in the project to ensure transparency. Another source said that if the tender was held while funding has yet to be firmed up, the private sector may not be interested because of the risk related to the project's cost.

Watcharapong

Thongrung

The Nation