End in Sight for Smart ID Card Issuance Problems

The ongoing Thai 'smart identification card' issue stemming from a conflict between two ministries will be resolved within a month, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva recently told the Thai public.

Prime Minister Abhisit said the problem with the smart ID cards between the Interior Ministry and the Information and Communication Technology Ministry (ICT) occurred because issued cards did not meet specifications set by the Interior Ministry.

Mr. Abhisit said he ordered a speedy correction while the Interior Ministry formed a committee to probe the matter. He expected the problem to be resolved by the end of July.

The prime minister said the Interior Ministry's Department of Provincial Administration had rejected 600,000 smart cards delivered by the ICT Ministry, responsible for procuring the cards, as they failed to meet Interior Ministry specifications.

Asked what will be done to resolve the issue, Mr. Abhisit said if the ICT Ministry settles the problem with the producer, it will take about one month to issue new cards.

If the problem cannot be resolved, Mr. Abhisit said he would form his own committee to investigate.

Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul said the problem was not political as the issue was taken care of by civil servants in both ministries.