Thai NLA approves 2015 state budget

BANGKOK, September 17 (TNA) - Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved the state budget for the 2015 fiscal year, starting from October 1, 2014, amounting 2.5 trillion baht. Considered as the first draft law approved by the NLA after the interim government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was formed earlier this month, the draft 2015 budget bill was unanimously approved by NLA members on Tuesday night with 142 votes. The Cabinet Secretariat will later forward the draft 2015 budget bill for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's final approval, before its promulgation. The prime minister acknowledged, meanwhile, that the 2015 budget, a deficit one, increased 50 billion baht from the present 2014 state budget, which ends on September 30, 2014, and after deducting from the government necessary expenditure, his interim government will have a small amount of money left for public investment. The prime minister told the NLA members that his government has, however, set aside a certain amount of state budget for public investment in 14 projects and, in order to prevent redundant in spending the money, a committee has been formed to monitor how the money will be spent. The prime minister reiterated that every public project must be carried out transparently and action will be taken against those corrupt. (TNA)