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Media urged not to be used by unscrupulous protesters seeking state handouts

14 Sept 01:45 Key points summarised by AI

Finance Permanent Secretary Prasong Poonthanate criticized individuals engaging in highly visible protests for state subsidies, claiming some have already received aid but demand more.
Prasong accused some media outlets of unwittingly being exploited by these protesters, citing incidents like a taxi driver scaling a fence and a protester allegedly bringing arsenic to garner attention.
He affirmed the Finance Ministry's commitment to swiftly disbursing COVID-19 relief funds but urged protesters to file complaints properly and avoid gatherings to prevent virus spread.
The permanent secretary specifically called on the media to avoid giving excessive coverage to these attention-seeking demonstrations.

Today 17:04 Key points summarised by AI

Civic groups, including those representing labourers and older people, submitted a protest letter demanding the Bhumjaithai Party withdraw bills to shift funding for four organizations (Thai PBS, Older Persons Fund, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Sports Authority of Thailand) from earmarked taxes to the central government budget.
Leaders argue these organizations were established for public interest, supporting public service media, elder care, public health, and sports development, and any amendments should consider all stakeholders' views.
Over 70% of parliamentary poll respondents opposed the proposed changes, prompting civic leaders to call on the ruling party to respect the people's will and withdraw the bills.
A network of slum dwellers also opposes the funding changes, threatening a rally if the government fails to address their demands.