The Opposition yesterday slammed the government's fiscal 2011 expenditure budget as favouring the military at the expense of the agricultural sector.
The entire 2011 budget is Bt2.07 trillion, an increase of 21.8 per cent over the current 2010 fiscal year, which ends in September.
"It appears the government loves soldiers more than farmers (as reflected by the budgets for Defence and Agriculture ministries). The Defence Ministry has seen its budget rising rapidly in the aftermath of the 2006 coup from just Bt70-80 billion per annum (to the current Bt170 billion)," Paijit said.
In defence of the budget bill, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said most public funds would reach the grassroots population, especially through education subsidy and other programmes.
Korn also noted that the Agriculture Ministry's budget growth rate is higher than that of the Defence Ministry.
Opposition MPs also sharply criticised the government for preparing the biggest deficit budget in history - as the 2011 budget deficit will amount to Bt420 billion with revenue projected to be much lower at Bt1.65 trillion.
Chalerm Yoobamrung, chairman of Pheu Thai MPs, said 61.1 per cent of the budget is allocated to only four ministries - Education, Interior, Finance, and Defence plus the PM's Office - so the majority of public funds to be spent in fiscal 2011 is highly concentrated.
In his opinion, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism ministries are under-budgeted, even though they are key agencies responsible for driving economic growth.
Chalerm cautioned the government would be trapped in a deficit spending pattern which would lead to long-term problems.
According to opposition MP Paijit, the government's claim the economy was still in good shape contradicts its approval of the biggest deficit budget in history.
The National Economic and Social Development Board projected that GDP growth would be 3.5-5 per cent this year.