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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

Critics pile pressure on new PM

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is about to make a speech after receiving royal endorsement for her prime ministerial position in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Critics have vowed to scrutinise Pheu Thai's digital wallet scheme, as well as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her shares in a company which bought a controversial monastic plot in Pathum Thani.

Suwit Thongprasert, an activist who was formerly known as Phra Buddha Isara, wrote on Facebook on Monday that a number of groups are asking government organisations to look into the issues.

"Pheu Thai had promised that the 10,000-baht [digital wallet handout] would be promptly distributed without the need to borrow money. Almost one year has passed, and the public has yet to receive a single baht from the scheme," he said.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had earlier warned the government against following through with the scheme, citing various legal pitfalls and the potential for corruption.

A former spokesman of the Democrat Party also said Ms Paetongtarn should return the controversial Pathum Thani land to the temple.

The land in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district was donated by a widow to a temple in Prachuap Khiri Khan in 1971.

After her death, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, of which Ms Paetongtarn is a shareholder.

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