PM Anutin Hands Out Cash to Flood Victims Amid Criticism

In the end, repeated apologies by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul were insufficient. Angry residents affected by the floods in Bangkok confronted the visiting Prime Minister for two nights. By Tuesday night, Anutin resorted to a controversial tactic in a bid to appease some flood-affected locals: he handed out 1,000-baht banknotes from his own pocket — 20,000 baht in total. The moment was captured on video, went viral, and was widely reported.

The incident took place late Tuesday night at Baan Eua-Arthorn Permsin in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district.

Anutin also instructed all cabinet ministers to suspend foreign travel for the duration of the emergency flood response. He also cancelled his own scheduled foreign trips for the next two to three weeks to remain in Thailand and oversee operations directly.

But by Wednesday, Anutin asked local reporters to stop asking him about persistent questions and criticisms over the government’s flood-handling measures (or lack thereof). Apparently, he wants to move on prematurely.

Handing out cash from his own pocket was a bad political move that will not solve any problems in a significant way.

The Toll Since the flooding began, 700,000 people have been affected across more than 300,000 households, according to Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej on Monday. On Wednesday, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said 40 people had died nationwide, citing the Public Health Ministry. Four of those deaths were in Bangkok, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Flooding has been reported in 42 districts, with eight still affected as of Wednesday: Lat Krabang, Bang Kapi, Min Buri, Saphan Sung, Suan Luang, Bueng Kum, Khlong Sam Wa, and Sai Mai.

As for total economic losses, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce estimated them at 12.3 billion baht overall. Estimates ranged from 5.9 billion to 20.6 billion baht, depending on recovery speed.

The Voices On Sunday afternoon, the second day of the downpour, I visited flood-affected areas in Bang Kapi, watching dozens of people wading through waist-deep floodwater to buy food and necessities.

I asked one flood victim whether he had any requests for the government; he said he only wished the government had given them clearer warnings earlier.

On Wednesday night, residents in Ayutthaya were calling for earlier flood warnings as levels rose rapidly.

The Failures Anutin has failed. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt was overconfident late last week and has also failed. The Meteorological Department has also failed to ensure that proper and timely warnings were issued.

Thai society needs a government that is competent, ever-prepared, communicates flood warnings clearly, and responds quickly to flooding — not a prime minister handing out 1,000 baht notes from his own pocket to a few residents who have been suffering through five days of flooding, seemingly to ease public anger towards the government.

As Tourism and Sports Minister Su