Senator Prem Slams Anutin’s Flood Response, Calls Cash Handout Futile

Dr Prem Sakdee Piayura, a senator, launched a scathing critique of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s handling of the flood crisis, calling it a total failure. He said the government still had not implemented the single‑command system it promised during the election campaign and that directives remained disorganized. The senator noted that the administration had not learned from the Hat Yai floods, despite having proposed a disaster fund and the use of technology through the Bhumjaithai Party, which had public support but had not been realized. Instead, the government prioritized borrowing money for populist policies. He accused party and government officials, including ministers and spokespeople, of fighting each other with rhetoric while victims suffered and lacked basic necessities, urging the prime minister to reset working principles and put people’s welfare first. Regarding Anutin’s recent visit to flooded areas where he personally gave 1,000 baht to each villager, Dr Prem said the gesture was inappropriate for a prime minister, could not reach everyone, and the amount was insufficient to meet people’s needs. He added that such actions were not the kind of solution expected from a national leader. Dr Prem commended Deputy Prime Minister Yotsanon Wongsa­wat for deploying drones to locate victims and relay coordinates to rescue teams, calling it a timely and effective approach that should be expanded, especially in areas inaccessible to boats or staff. He questioned why, with available technology and budget, the government was not using them fully. The senator also criticized the prime minister’s overseas trip during the disaster, pointing out that the interior ministry’s permanent secretary accompanied him, raising concerns about continuity of command. He asked why the permanent secretary was not left in Thailand to oversee the response. Finally, Dr Prem expressed skepticism about the approval of the large Chao Phraya‑Pasak‑Gulf of Thailand drainage canal project, noting its huge cost, eight‑year timeline, and completion date in 2034, and urged careful consideration given the country’s existing debt burden.