Thai PM Refers Questions on Transfer of Two Phuket Deputy Governors to Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary
Thailand’s prime minister referred questions about the transfer of two Phuket deputy governors to the Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary, who also declined to comment.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday declined to explain the transfer of two Phuket deputy governors, telling reporters to direct questions to the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry.
Before a cabinet meeting at Government House at 10 a.m., Anutin was asked about the reassignment of the Phuket officials. He replied briefly: “Go ask the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry.”
Reporters then sought comment from Interior Ministry permanent secretary Arsit Sampantharat, but he declined to be interviewed and immediately followed the prime minister into the cabinet meeting.
The questions came after an Interior Ministry order transferred five deputy governors, including two from Phuket. The order took effect on June 16, according to the report.
The report said Phuket had become a particular focus after a June 15 policy meeting with heads of Interior Ministry agencies, where the prime minister criticized efforts to address the problem of local influence networks. It also said there had been reports that several ministers were criticized over how such problems were being handled in their respective areas.
The government has not publicly provided further details in this report about the reasons for the Phuket transfers or the specific roles of the two deputy governors affected.
The development leaves the administrative changes in Phuket without an official public explanation from either the prime minister or the ministry’s top civil servant.
