Minister Denies Politics in Cabinet Attendance at Nevin’s Birthday
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwat Chomglin defended the attendance of Cabinet members and MPs at Buriram United chairman Nevin Chidchob’s birthday, saying it was a normal act of respect and not political. He praised Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as a 'Superman' for his hectic schedule, including flood relief work in Prachinburi. Suwat stressed that flood response continues and officials must manage their time effectively.
Suwat reiterated that the gathering should not be politicized, noting that everyone has the right to express respect to elders they admire. He compared the situation to junior media staff who have been trained to become good journalists but fail to visit their senior colleagues on their birthdays, suggesting that the same principle of reciprocity applies. He stressed that the government must allocate time wisely, citing his own late‑night return home and Anutin’s early‑morning attendance at a disaster‑prevention meeting after a late flight to Prachinburi. When asked about Nevin’s advice, Suwat said the meeting was a private, family‑like atmosphere with no political discussion; the takeaway was to love one another, stay united, and work for the nation, with each official responsible for their own area and ready to respond to floods where needed. He noted that his jurisdiction in Chonburi now has only minor flooding left, which can be handled by staff and should be resolved in one or two days, although new rain has fallen. Suwat dismissed the idea that the birthday attendance looked like a political roll‑call, urging people to view the event from a personal perspective rather than a political one. He recalled telling the Prime Minister that he is a 'Superman' who flies to Prachinburi, returns late in the evening, and still works on holidays, drawing energy from somewhere despite being nearly ten years younger and often feeling sleepy; he must persevere because the public is suffering. Suwat described his work as integrated, saying he does not solely oversee the eastern region but rushes to help any center that needs assistance, and concluded by noting that the situation at Rom Klaeng is now dry.
