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Bangkok Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Phumtham warns 'idle' officials
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday warned idle ministry officials that they face the risk of being transferred, and that the reshuffle of positions within the ministry could be finalised this month. Mr Phumtham's warning came as speculation of a reshuffle arose ahead of the transfer season in late September, which is the end of the government fiscal budget year. "Nobody is going to wait until September," Mr Phumtham, who also serves as acting prime minister, told reporters in reference to the repositioning of high-ranking officials within the ministry to match its operational needs. "I have ordered all departments to start working because I want to see everything operational by Oct 1 because there are so many issues at hand," he said. Mr Phumtham said he expects all the changes to be completed by mid-August at the latest. When asked if the deputy permanent secretary for interior, who supervised the revocation of ownership of the Alpine Golf and Sports Club, would be transferred, Mr Phumtham said he would look into this and other cases, including the Khao Kradong land controversy. The Alpine Golf and Sports Club is linked to the Shinawatra family, while parts of the Khao Kradong land are linked to the Chidchob family, a main backer of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), which recently exited the government coalition. If there are grounds to claims of violations of Section 157 of the Criminal Code for malfeasance in office, or if any work duties have been neglected or laws breached, legal action may follow, Mr Phumtham said. Transfers of idle, under-performing or law-breaking staff can proceed immediately if there is sufficient evidence, he said.
Bangkok Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Crunch time for Phumtham
New interior minister, and current acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, is a man who can make tough decisions. His recent record includes the decision to return Uyghurs to China early this year, as demanded by Beijing. Last month, he approved a long-delayed, controversial submarine procurement from China -- a call that even junta leader-cum-prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha shied away from. True to form, Mr Phumtham started his first week at the ministry by transferring two director-generals at the Department of Provincial Administration and the Department of Local Administration -- strategic bodies directly involved with local voters and administration. Yet, Mr Phumtham will be judged on how he handles two controversial land issues. The first is land encroachment in Kao Kradong; the other is a scandal at the Alpine Golf Course. Last Monday, Mr Phumtham announced a committee would investigate the long-standing Khao Kradong dispute in Buri Ram province, which involves state-owned land allegedly overlapping property linked to the influential Chidchob family. The dispute, which spans over 50 years, centres on 5,083 rai in a designated forest conservation zone. The Supreme Court ruled the land belonged to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) prior to the issuance of land title deeds by the Department of Lands (DoL), and that those deeds were unlawful and must be revoked. The DoL had previously decided not to revoke 900 deeds, including 20 linked to the influential Chidchob family, key players behind the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT). The Kao Kradong issue is believed by most people to be a clash between Pheu Thai and the BJT. In January, former deputy interior minister Chada Thaiseth, a BJT lawmaker, signed an order to revoke the Shinawatra family's ownership of the Alpine Golf and Sports Club and an adjacent residential complex in Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani. This reversed an earlier court ruling that the land belonged to a Buddhist temple and therefore could not be sold. The Alpine Golf Course is a long-running scandal centring on the sale of 924 rai of land in Pathum Thani belonging to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sport Club in 2002. Both companies are linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter, the current suspended prime minister, Paetongtarn. Originally, the land plot was donated by a widow, Noem Chamnanchartsakda, to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn. After her death, the Mahamongkut Ratcha Wittayalai Foundation, which oversees the property on the late widow's behalf, sold plots to politicians. In 2002, the land was sold to Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, four years before her then husband Thaksin became prime minister. The Shinawatras then developed the golf course and residential properties on it. In April, following the ruling against them, the Shinawatra Family sued the Ministry of Interior and the Land Department for revoking the land, seeking 7.7 billion baht in compensation. The spotlight is now on Mr Phumtham. Of course, he deserves praise for tackling the Kao Kradong dispute, but with his newly elevated status, he will be expected to adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards in his handling of the Alpine Golf Course affair. If any doubts over his scruples remain afterwards, Mr Phumtham risks being remembered as a politician who flunked the defining moment of his career to curry political favour for his party and his (suspended) boss.
Bangkok Post
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Thammanat calm amid coalition storm
Capt Thammanat Prompao, chief adviser to the Klatham Party, says he is confident the coalition government will carry on despite its slim majority, while declaring the party's goal of winning at least 70 seats in the next election. Speaking on Saturday, Capt Thammanat drew a comparison to the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, which also operated with a narrow margin, adding he had successfully managed MPs' votes during that time. If the coalition partners could stay unified and continue to hold open discussions about their numbers, the government could survive any quorum challenges that crop up, he said. "Since entering politics since 1998, when I was with the Thai Rak Thai Party, I've witnessed a great deal," he said. "I'm on the inside and understand whether the situation is manageable. This is something we must discuss with our coalition partners. Stability hinges on the ruling coalition holding hands." Addressing his relationship with Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Capt Thammanat said they still speak just as they did before and he has never treated anyone as a political enemy. When asked about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's remarks regarding the possibility of the BJT rejoining the coalition, Capt Thammanat stated: "In politics, nothing is certain. There are no true friends or permanent enemies." Regarding contingency plans should the political crisis involving Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra not be resolved quickly, he said this would be a key topic at the next coalition meeting. He also stressed his commitment to ensuring the consistent support of more than 30 MPs under his supervision for every vote. He added the government was not at a dead end and the slim majority served as a constant reminder for MPs to be prepared for every vote and that all coalition parties should keep their members in line. In a separate address at the launch of Klatham's seminar, "Dare To Do," Capt Thammanat made similar comments. He said a party, which began with just four MPs, now has 20 as it continues to grow. "This party belongs to the brave, the bold, the doers -- not those who overthink or are overly meticulous," he declared. He also announced the party has an eyes on the North, Northeast and South -- and especially the province of Phangnga, where he promised a landslide victory for the Klatham.
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Shunting of 2 Buri Ram officials riles Bhumjaithai Party
The opposition Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) said Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai's decision to transfer two senior officials just days after taking office might have been politically motivated. Korrawee Prissananantakul, a BJT MP for Ang Thong and a member of the House committee on administration, questioned Mr Phumtham, who is now also serving as the acting prime minister, and his decision, which Mr Korrawee said was lacking an adequate explanation. "It begs the question as to why Mr Phumtham, who was installed in office last week, made the decision to transfer officials quite early this week." The MP said the minister would need to prove how the transfer will help the performance of his ministry, adding that high-level transfers of officials often send a signal of sorts. As such, he said, the move should be fair and designed to enhance work efficiency, not used for political vengeance. One of the officials transferred was Chaiwat Chuntirapong, formerly the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA). On Tuesday, he was made an inspector-general of the Interior Ministry. He will be replaced by Chiang Mai governor Nirat Wongsitthithavorn. Narucha Kosasivilai, director-general of the Department of Local Administration, was appointed an inspector-general of the ministry. He will be succeeded by Phetchaburi governor Phopchanok Chalanukroh. Sanong Thep-aksornnarong, a BJT MP for Buri Ram, asked in the House yesterday if these officials were suddenly shunted to new posts simply because they were from the province known as BJT's political stronghold. "If you [Mr Phumtham] are thinking of transferring all of the officials appointed by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, then you may have to transfer all the provincial governors," said Mr Sanong. Mr Phumtham on Tuesday referred to a shortage of material used to make national ID cards in Buri Ram as a probable cause of Mr Chaiwat's transfer. The DoPA is in charge of issuing ID cards to all Thais. "It is a small example, and it may not be the case of why he was transferred," said Mr Phumtham. "I told officials I will give them three months, but anything that obstructs our work can be changed. It has nothing to do with Buri Ram or politics. And it's not about how close they are with the previous interior minister," he added.
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Shunting of 2 Buri Ram officials riles BJT
The opposition Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) said Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai's decision to transfer two senior officials just days after taking office might have been politically motivated. Korrawee Prissananantakul, a BJT MP for Ang Thong and a member of the House committee on administration, questioned Mr Phumtham, who is now also serving as the acting prime minister, and his decision, which Mr Korrawee said was lacking an adequate explanation. "It begs the question as to why Mr Phumtham, who was installed in office last week, made the decision to transfer officials quite early this week." The MP said the minister would need to prove how the transfer will help the performance of his ministry, adding that high-level transfers of officials often send a signal of sorts. As such, he said, the move should be fair and designed to enhance work efficiency, not used for political vengeance. One of the officials transferred was Chaiwat Chuntirapong, formerly the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA). On Tuesday, he was made an inspector-general of the Interior Ministry. He will be replaced by Chiang Mai governor Nirat Wongsitthithavorn. Narucha Kosasivilai, director-general of the Department of Local Administration, was appointed an inspector-general of the ministry. He will be succeeded by Phetchaburi governor Phopchanok Chalanukroh. Sanong Thep-aksornnarong, a BJT MP for Buri Ram, asked in the House yesterday if these officials were suddenly shunted to new posts simply because they were from the province known as BJT's political stronghold. "If you [Mr Phumtham] are thinking of transferring all of the officials appointed by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, then you may have to transfer all the provincial governors," said Mr Sanong. Mr Phumtham on Tuesday referred to a shortage of material used to make national ID cards in Buri Ram as a probable cause of Mr Chaiwat's transfer. The DoPA is in charge of issuing ID cards to all Thais. "It is a small example, and it may not be the case of why he was transferred," said Mr Phumtham. "I told officials I will give them three months, but anything that obstructs our work can be changed. It has nothing to do with Buri Ram or politics. And it's not about how close they are with the previous interior minister," he added.
