Senator Urges Govt to Act on Floods, Threatens Public Action
Senator Wutthipong Phongsuwan accused the Prime Minister and Interior Minister of neglecting flood‑related questions in parliament, urging them to act under disaster legislation or face public pressure. He said flood victims want clear timelines for water recession and aid, not just temporary handouts, and warned that officials who fail to respond should step down.
On 5 Oct 2069 at Parliament, Senator Wutthipong Phongsuwan called on the Prime Minister and ministers to answer senators' questions, especially on flood solutions, noting he had raised the issue the previous week and again this week. He said while many flood‑control plans exist, past decisions have been consistently flawed, and today the Interior Minister delegated the response to Deputy Interior Minister Jeseraset Thaizet, who was unavailable due to other commitments. The senator argued that any assistant minister could respond, stressing that flood victims need to know when water will recede, how they will be compensated, and when payments will arrive, rather than just receiving food boxes or cash handouts. He emphasized that pumping and diverting water are essential, and claims of insufficient pumps are unfounded because resources are available nationwide. If the government invokes the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, it can commandeer equipment and personnel from all provinces, with the Prime Minister as commander‑in‑chief; the law already exists and only needs to be proclaimed. He concluded by urging leaders to wake from their dreams and festivities, warning that otherwise the public will loudly demand they use their legal authority, and if they cannot, they should resign.
