One Thai political party wants to end 500 baht and 1000 baht notes

[Gaybutton]

In my opinion it is a ridiculous and impractical idea. While I try to pay by Prompt Pay and similar whenever I can, I also carry cash, and so do most people. I don't want to walk around having to carry a wallet full of 100 baht notes. Also, not everyone trusts paying by app and not everyone even owns a smartphone. Also there are still enough places that are cash-only.

I find it hard to believe those of you who don't hold a Thai bank account would like the idea of having to carry enough 100 baht notes in the evening - enough to pay for dinner, drinks at a bar, paying an off fee, and tipping a boy. You'd need a lot of 100 baht notes for that one evening, not to mention how often you would have to go to ATMs, pay the foreign transaction fees, and take out a bundle of 100 baht notes, probably on a daily basis.

I can understand Thailand's desire to become a cashless society. To me it would make better sense to work toward that goal. Instead of doing away with bank notes, how about just waiting until Thailand really does become essentially a cashless society and bank notes simply become obsolete.
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Thai Pakdee Party plans to cancel 1,000 and 500 baht banknotes

by Chattarin Siradakul

December 26, 2025

The Thai Pakdee Party announced today, December 26, its plan to cancel the use of 1,000 and 500 baht banknotes across Thailand in an effort to combat corruption and disrupt the flow of illicit cash in underground networks.

Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, revealed the party’s latest anti-corruption policy on his Facebook post, stating their intention to cancel the use of 1,000 and 500 baht banknotes nationwide. He argued that these banknotes are a tool used by those involved in grey money operations to hide illegal wealth in cash.

Warong claimed that scrapping these notes would weaken the ability of corrupt networks to store, transfer, and pay bribes using physical cash, which is notoriously difficult to trace. He noted that while digital transfers and asset-based transactions leave a trail, cash payments, particularly in high values, often leave no trail at all, making them the preferred method for bribes and illicit deals.

The Thai Pakdee leader also asserted that bribes, campaign financing, and even state contract kickbacks are often paid in cash. Even when corrupt networks attempt to mask transactions through mule accounts, the funds are eventually withdrawn in cash and passed along the chain to keep illegal operations hidden.

It is not uncommon, he stated, for politicians’ homes to contain secret rooms used to store large amounts of cash, citing a past case in which hundreds of boxes of 1,000 baht banknotes were reportedly found at the home of a former highways department director-general.

As part of a broader anti-corruption framework, Warong proposed harsher penalties for financial crimes, including the death penalty for those found guilty of embezzling over 100 million baht, with mandatory execution within 15 days and no eligibility for royal pardons.

He added that giving citizens the legal power to file lawsuits directly against corrupt officials, with a right to receive monetary rewards upon successful prosecution, would be another step towards genuine reform.

Cancelling 1,000 and 500 baht notes would not harm honest citizens, as most now rely on digital banking for transactions, Warong insisted. For elderly Thais who may still use physical cash, he said smaller values such as 100, 50, and 20 baht notes would be sufficient for everyday use.

If the cancellation were announced, possibly within the next three months, those attempting to deposit large sums of cash would be required to declare the source of the funds and pay any applicable taxes.

The announcement received mixed reactions online, with some seeing it as a bold but necessary move to crack down on corruption, and others doubting its practicality and whether it might inconvenience the public.

In similar news, the opposition People’s Party (PP) has launched its early election campaign under the slogan With Us, No Grey, signalling a firm anti-corruption stance as the country inches toward a potential snap election.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... ncellation

[Jun]

Is this the Thai equivalent of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party?

Although, they do have some more targetted policies:
"As part of a broader anti-corruption framework, Warong proposed harsher penalties for financial crimes, including the death penalty for those found guilty of embezzling over 100 million baht, with mandatory execution within 15 days and no eligibility for royal pardons."

[Dodger]

I just can't stop laughing...

[Jun]

Apparently, there will be 52 parties contesting the election. This appears to be one of the many with negligible support.

[christianpfc]

A horrible idea! I prefer cash over digital payment and continue to use cash wherever possible.
I haven't seen this idea on advertising, it would have caught my eye. Will look out.
Anyway, this will not reduce corruption, they will find other ways (very simple: gold).