Commerce Permanent Secretary Pulls Deputy PM Away from Media After Pressed on Live-Stream Durian Sales Controversy
A Commerce Ministry permanent secretary repeatedly pulled Deputy PM Supachee away from media questioning on a controversial live-stream durian sale, as Parliament moves to investigate the discounted 100-baht promotion that critics say disru
April 29, 2026 – At Santi Maitri Building, Government House, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Sutthipandej answered media questions after Parliament prepared to lodge an inquiry into the live-stream durian sales incident and establish a committee to address agricultural price problems, citing the issue as "not solving the real problem." Media attempted to interview Supachee, but Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Witthikrai Leeveeraphant pulled her away from the media circle, stating he had "other duties to attend to." Supachee then indicated she didn't yet know who established the committee or its details, and requested to review the information first. When asked about the live-stream durian sale with a famous influencer at 100 baht that didn't match the product description, and opposition criticism that it was impossible and disrupted market mechanisms, Supachee said she hadn't watched it and didn't manage to place an order in time. Regarding criticisms that the product didn't match the description, she said relevant agencies need to investigate. Reporters noted that as media attempted to interview Supachee, the Commerce Ministry permanent secretary and officials pulled her away from the media circle three times and requested that media not conduct interviews at that time.
