Shadow Cabinet Urges Govt to Reveal Flood Truth, Plan Response

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said the House debate today will address disaster management. He urged the prime minister and cabinet to attend parliament to answer lawmakers' questions directly, which would be most beneficial for solving public issues. He noted that after field visits, the real problem is the absence of appropriate on‑site command centers matched to each area's specific challenges—for example, Prachinburi faces industrial waste, so a center with pollution‑control agencies would be fitting, while densely populated housing estates like Khlong Chan and Rom Klao may need incident‑specific centers. He thanked all sectors, foundations, civil society, and political parties for their help, stressing that on‑site command centers are still lacking. He said the government should anticipate the worst‑case scenario to respond promptly, proposing a structure that combines centralised command, centralised decision‑making, and decentralised local level management. He divided areas into four zones: (1) dry areas where complacency must be avoided, urging sanitation and relief, citing Pak Kret municipality’s switch from relief kits to cash aid as a good model; (2) Bangkok and surrounding metropolitan areas still flooded, needing rapid drainage, especially clearing blocked alleyways and canals, requiring cooperation with local authorities; (3) riverside areas still inundated and at risk of higher flooding; and (4) areas not yet flooded but at risk, requiring continuous monitoring. He said these proposals should be sent to the government, hoping the prime minister will come to clarify and join the parliamentary debate. Meanwhile, People's Party secretary‑general Pijarin Chaowanawong said MPs and local politicians have done their utmost to help with Bangkok and nearby provinces flooding, but observed that provincial governors and the central government communicate too little and too slowly. He noted Bangkok lacks sufficient resources and manpower to handle widespread heavy rain and flooding, forcing residents to evacuate and travel through deep water without transport, and called for local politicians to coordinate with the Expressway Authority, military, and Highway Department to bring in vehicles to serve the public. He added that a military officer had asked him to help liaise with the governor to work together.