Patchara Anuntasilpa, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), has dismissed claims that the public hearing on the TH-AI Passport project was intended to "whitewash" the initiative.
Mr Patchara's comment comes as the DES is set to hold a forum on Thursday to exchange ideas on the TH-AI Passport project.
The forum is open to interested parties, including the private sector, educational institutions, and experts. DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob will also attend.
Asked how the opinions from the hearing would be used, Mr Patchara said they would likely be negotiated with the contractor to determine if the feedback is acceptable, if it falls within the terms of reference (TOR), and how it can be implemented to ensure the project's success.
When asked further whether the feedback could be used to change the TOR, Mr Patchara said it is not possible since the contract has already been signed.
He also dismissed a remark by Rukchanok Srinork, a list-MP from the People's Party, that this public hearing would be a whitewashing platform for the project, saying it depends on the perspective taken.
The project's costs are considered much cheaper when compared to existing services in the market or even those offered by the private sector, said the permanent secretary.
DES Deputy Minister Nan Boonthida Somchai, meanwhile, said she has been assigned to collect opinions about the project online.
She noted that the information presented was currently one-sided, hence the need for a public hearing.
Ms Nan said if the contracting party or the developer believes suggestions collected from the public forum can be implemented, then there would be a preliminary negotiation. She said a public hearing must precede all government projects, but in this case, no feedback was received from the outset, and not until a contractor had been selected and the process had begun.
