Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said yesterday that he would wait for the triparty committee's investigation result into reported irregularities concerning smart ID cards before he takes any further action.
Following reports that the ID cards were not designed according to the Interior Ministry's specifications, Chaovarat said the committee comprised of Interior and ICT Ministry officials as well as the Council of State, would discuss which format was acceptable and set the standard. Asked what would happen to the 26 million cards already issued, he said once a decision was made, people could return old cards and get new ones for free.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged the Interior Ministry and Office of the National Security Council to look into the problem of identity theft. Asked how the government would compensate those affected by ID theft, which deprived them from any rights until death, Abhisit said they should notify PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtoey who will necessary action.