Khlong Toei MP Calls for Ethics Committee to Investigate Bangkok MP Phandthil Over Drug-Related Comments About Village Headmen

During the parliamentary session at 9:00 AM on May 6, 2025, with parliamentary speaker Sophon Sathiramya presiding, Lampang MP Dachay Ekpatphai from the Rak Thailand Party raised the issue regarding Bangkok MP Phandthil Nuamchai from the People's Party, who had made remarks linking village headmen and sub-district chiefs to drug abuse. Ekpatphai noted that these local administrative positions have a history spanning over 133 years and serve as crucial institutional pillars for the Ministry of Interior and all provinces. Village headmen and sub-district chiefs are positions of honor and dignity with responsibilities to address public suffering and promote community welfare. However, on April 30, another MP made sweeping allegations in parliament accusing all village headmen and sub-district chiefs of being drug addicts and traffickers, causing distress to these officials nationwide.

"I visited Lampang, and the village headmen and sub-district chiefs asked me to convey their strong concerns," Ekpatphai said, using language he later requested to be stricken from the record. He continued by arguing that the MP in question demonstrated a severe lack of intellectual integrity, as village leaders work tirelessly to care for their communities, yet the remarks have damaged all of them. He called for an apology rather than superficial video apologies.

Ekpatphai formally requested the speaker consider establishing an ethics committee to investigate whether the MP violated ethical standards under sections 13 and 15 of category 2 of the parliamentary code of conduct. In response, Phandthil bowed and apologized to the village headmen and sub-district chiefs, acknowledged all criticisms, and accepted all appropriate sanctions.