People’s Party MP calls Phuket governor transfers a ‘smokescreen’ after leaked chat controversy
A People’s Party MP has attacked the transfer of Phuket’s governor and deputy governor after a leaked chat controversy, saying the reshuffle does not solve the underlying problem and calling for a deeper investigation.
People’s Party list MP Pakamon Noonanant on Tuesday criticized the transfer of Phuket’s governor and deputy governor, saying the reshuffle was only a “smokescreen” and did not address the root of alleged wrongdoing.
Speaking at the People’s Party office, Pakamon, who also chairs the House committee on political development, questioned the practice of moving officials after problems emerge instead of imposing clearer punishment or investigating those involved. She said the transfer of the Phuket deputy governor to Nakhon Si Thammarat, described in the report as his home province, did not appear to be a meaningful penalty.
Her comments followed controversy over leaked chat messages and the subsequent reassignment of senior Phuket provincial officials. Pakamon said people in Phuket had known about the issues for a long time and expressed disappointment that the prime minister and interior minister appeared to have acted only recently.
She said a People’s Party MP had tried to submit a complaint directly to the prime minister during a visit to Phuket, but was told to leave, which she said raised doubts about the government’s willingness to listen from the start.
Pakamon also said she had evidence that could help support allegations that benefits had been received since 2023, and asked why action had only now been taken. She said the public needed to know what offenses were involved, who was connected to them and who was behind them.
The MP said she was not convinced the transfers of the Phuket governor and deputy governor were part of a genuine crackdown on local mafia influence. Instead, she described the moves as an internal power test and political theater meant to mislead the public.
She also referred to an earlier Line chat case, “Help Blue,” which had already been raised with her committee. Pakamon said the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration had previously confirmed to the committee that no inquiry panel had yet been set up, despite public comments by the prime minister.
According to Pakamon, her committee will continue gathering facts this week. She said the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, the interior minister and the Election Commission had been invited to provide explanations, including on whether interference with state officials in an election would constitute an offense.
Pakamon said merely transferring officials from Phuket to another province would not solve the problem if the underlying networks remained untouched. She said a serious response would require a deeper investigation into the source of influence and accountability for all involved.
