MP Beer Defends Flood Relief Photo Amid Political Backlash

On September 25, Thongpon Suksomboon, Member of Parliament for Ayutthaya District 1 representing the Bhumjaithai Party, explained the flooding situation in Bang Bal district. He noted that current water levels remain lower than during the 2025 floods, but residents are concerned about rapidly rising water levels and hourly warnings that give them little time to prepare. He said he has coordinated with the government on long-term solutions while providing immediate relief to affected communities.

Regarding the social media controversy over foam sheet distribution, Thongpon said the situation arose when he was returning from a parliamentary meeting and inspected a canal following local complaints. He encountered local government officials distributing foam sheets and stopped to chat with them. His team posted photos clearly attributing the distribution to the provincial administration and local government officials, not claiming credit for the relief effort.

"Residents asked me to join them because they fear another severe flood like in 2025. They were not using the foam for entertainment but to protect trees, stored goods, and farm equipment. Local government has long provided such relief—it's normal for authorities to care for people. What was wrong with me stopping to take a photo? Is it wrong because I'm with the Bhumjaithai Party? If another party did this, would it be acceptable?" he said.

Thongpon argued that residents in the affected area understand the situation better than online critics, many of whom are not local. He noted that constituents elected him because of his decades of community work. He criticized political opponents for exploiting public hardship and called for unity in helping flood victims. With over 20 years of service in the area, he said locals know his record and asked those not elected to stop criticizing and let representatives serve the public fully.