Minister Denies Knowledge of Party Defection Reports

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin, a core leader of Pheu Thai Party, denied Wednesday morning at Government House having any actual knowledge of reports that ten Krathodham Party (KDC) members are switching to Pheu Thai. He said he has only followed the story through media and was not part of any discussions about it. "What I don't know, I don't know," he stated. "If I knew something, I couldn't keep it to myself—I'd tell it if asked. But if I don't know, I simply don't know. It's not good to speak about things we don't understand. I have to admit openly to the media that I genuinely don't know and haven't followed up, because I consider this to be each person's own interpretation and thoughts. I don't want to overstep anyone's feelings."

When asked if he had exchanged information with Bunyying Nititkanjana, a Krathodham MP from Ratchaburi, Suchat said they only see each other in parliament recently and don't talk. He dismissed the story as political color and said the media likely has more reliable sources than he does.

Regarding whether the government deliberately recruited new members, Suchat clarified that such decisions are the party leadership's domain, not his. He is only one MP among 197 and not a party executive committee member. He credited PM Anutin Charnvirakul with steering both party and government direction.

Asked if the news was meant to overshadow reports about the red and green parties, Suchat said all 500 MPs follow media reports—nobody has the real facts. "It's political theater. When there's a news source, whether it's true or false depends on the source the media received," he explained.

Challenging predictions the government won't survive its full term, Suchat asserted that Anutin's administration is strong and all ministers are confident in their work. He drew on his six to seven years in previous cabinets since 2019, noting that every government faces problems manufactured by opponents trying to undermine it.

"If the government stands firm, as the PM says—standing by working for the nation and its people—nothing can harm it," Suchat said. Asked about multiple current crises surrounding the government, he downplayed them. "These problems are still fewer and less severe than the COVID-19 era. That was the most dangerous—a national crisis far scarier than today. Both PM Anutin and I lived through that. He was Deputy PM and Health Minister responsible for the whole country, facing much heavier problems than now. I was Labor Minister overseeing some 10 million workers. The truly frightening problems are those that become global crises or things beyond our control."