BANGKOK, Thailand – Senator Alongkot Worakee, chair of the Senate committee overseeing budget management, has called for a detailed review of the government’s “soft power” projects, citing concerns over misallocated funds and the inability to measure tangible results.
According to Alongkot, the committee will summon relevant agencies from nearly 12 ministries, including Tourism and Sports, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, for explanations every Monday until October 30. He criticized current activities, such as celebrity endorsements and small events, for failing to meet the actual objectives of soft power.
“Soft power is not just having a celebrity eat street food and post online. Most of what is being done are mere events, and the agencies in charge are not achieving the intended outcomes,” he said. Alongkot added that while procurement processes may be correct, the concepts behind the projects are flawed and there is no systematic method to evaluate real results.
He suggested that funds would be better spent on concrete projects, such as building border fences from Trat to Ubon Ratchathani and even Buriram, rather than on initiatives that cannot produce measurable benefits. He stressed that the government should consider cancelling all soft power budget allocations, even though the 2026 budget has already been approved. (TNA)
