Bangkok: Mr. Sanong Thep-aksornnarong, a member of the House of Representatives for Buriram Province, has criticized Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, the Minister of Interior, accusing him of seeking political revenge rather than focusing on governance. Mr. Sanong expressed concerns about Mr. Phumtham’s past performance as Defense Minister, during which he claims Cambodia severely criticized him, leading to fears of territorial loss.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sanong stated that the Bhumjaithai Party is currently functioning as a constructive opposition party after withdrawing from the coalition government on June 18th over disagreements with government policies. Key issues included the push to open casinos, which Mr. Sanong believes could become a channel for money laundering and negatively impact Thai society’s morality. The party’s decision to part ways was also influenced by an audio clip involving the Prime Minister and Samdech Hun Sen, which damaged public confidence.
Mr. Sanong emphasized that the Bhumjaithai Party has no intention of competing for the prime minister position. He reaffirmed that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, the party leader, has not accepted the interim prime minister post, recognizing Paethongtarn Shinawatra as the current prime minister, despite her court-ordered suspension from duties. Mr. Sanong urged the Pheu Thai Party to focus on solving livelihood issues rather than harboring suspicions.
He further criticized Mr. Phumtham for allegedly using his power to transfer civil servants for political purposes, creating division within the Interior Ministry instead of uniting officials to serve the public. Mr. Sanong highlighted that such actions are being closely watched by the public and perceived as counterproductive.
Addressing the “Khao Kradong” case, Mr. Sanong called for an unbiased investigation and inquired about the progress of the Alpine Golf Course and Thames Valley Golf Course cases in Khao Yai, which also have questionable ownership issues.
Reflecting on Mr. Phumtham’s tenure as Minister of Commerce, Mr. Sanong noted that falling agricultural product prices caused widespread hardship. He also criticized Mr. Phumtham’s performance as Minister of Defense, claiming that Cambodia’s aggressive stance led to a severe border dispute.
Mr. Sanong reiterated the Bhumjaithai Party’s commitment to its role as a constructive opposition, emphasizing that the party has never sought power or violated constitutional rules. He urged the government to refrain from seeking revenge, distorting facts, and eroding public trust.