Thailand’s civic groups and the opposition People’s Party have urged the government to withdraw two controversial bills aimed at legalising casino-entertainment complexes and amending gambling laws to allow online betting, as political instability continues to grip the country.
According to the Bangkok Post, People’s Party MP and spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu noted that the opposition maintains that if the government genuinely considered concerns raised by opposition parties and segments of the public, it should withdraw the bill entirely.
He criticised the government for prioritizing the casino-entertainment complex bill while failing to address pressing national concerns. He suggested that pushing the bill could serve as a test of the government’s fragile parliamentary support.
The protest, led by Thanakorn Khomkrit, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, took place outside Government House on Wednesday.
Demonstrators submitted a petition to suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who also leads the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The petition was received by Sompas Nilphan, an adviser to the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
