Klongtham Blames Suriya Reshuffle for Worsening Floods, Demands Aid

At 1:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026, at Parliament, during the House of Representatives meeting considering an urgent oral motion requesting the House to study approaches for overall water management, coping with flood problems in crisis situations, and urgent measures to rehabilitate and relieve affected areas, for the government to implement. Eight similar motions were submitted by MPs.

Mr. Piyawatt Kittithanethawon, MP for Nakhon Nayok from the Klongtham Party, debated the urgent oral motion, asking the House to consider studying overall water management approaches, saying: 'We have faced great floods since Nakhon Nayok, Hat Yai, Nan, Nakhon Nayok again, with more than 30,000 households flooded and the number of victims increasing daily. From September 25-27, Nakhon Nayok province was completely inundated; people could not leave their homes, some were forced to float inside their houses, houses damaged, businesses destroyed. We understand this is a natural disaster and have received concern from Lieutenant Colonel Thamanat Phumphon, leader of the Klongtham Party, Nakornwit Prisanananthakul, and various politicians who have come to give encouragement and help resolve the situation.'

'But what we do not understand is the water management overseen by the Royal Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The director of the Kuan Dan Prakan Chon water delivery and maintenance project, Royal Irrigation Department, have they even looked at the weather forecast? On September 23, water in the Kuan Dan Prakan Chon dam was at 93% and they did not release it, waiting for what? Waiting for heavy rain, waiting for flooding before releasing water, despite the weather page continuously warning, but the Meteorological Department said it was not true, and the Meteorological Department itself did not inform what the situation would become. Therefore I would like to urge the Meteorological Department to study rainfall prediction from that page.'

'I criticize Minister Suriya Jungrungrueangkid for changing horses mid-battle, shuffling officials chaotically without clear reason, replacing the director general, altering management plans, going back and forth, making things worse than before. The Irrigation Department is not anyone's internship. The public wants experts who understand the work; if you do not understand, you should call the man named Lieutenant Colonel Thamanat, who has been here longer and has never experienced such an incident.'

Mr. Piyawatt added that the image of the minister giving interviews with a voice‑over team constantly shows a lack of understanding while attempting to work. Furthermore, from October 5‑10 the minister will return, hoping the government will be better prepared.

Finally, sympathy is not needed; we need relief funds, rice to eat, decent shelter for rest, and swift action to solve the people's problems.