Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has acknowledged that Chaichanok Chidchob, an MP for Buriram and secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party, made a mistake in publicly opposing the draft bill on entertainment complexes, including casinos. He emphasized that Chaichanok's stance was a personal opinion and not a decision of the Bhumjaithai Party.
According to Thai News Agency, Anutin, who is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, stated that Chaichanok's comments in the House of Representatives were not in alignment with the party's position. He explained that while MPs can express personal views, party members are expected to adhere to party resolutions, especially when it involves coalition agreements. Anutin reiterated the party's readiness to support the coalition's decisions, as was made clear in an announcement following a cabinet meeting at Government House on April 8.
Anutin further explained that Chaichanok had not sought prior approval from the party before his public declaration, which led to the current misunderstanding. Anutin expressed apologies for any inconvenience caused and clarified that he intends to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister to ensure that the remarks are understood as Chaichanok's personal views and not reflective of the Bhumjaithai Party's stance.
In response to whether he had discussed the issue with the Prime Minister or Newin Chidchob, the executive chairman of Buriram United Football Club and Chaichanok's father, Anutin confirmed that he had not yet communicated with either individual. He plans to reach out to the Prime Minister after office hours to provide further clarification as the leader of the coalition government.
Anutin concluded by acknowledging Chaichanok's right as an MP to express personal opinions but stressed the importance of coordinating with the party first to prevent any disorder within the party ranks. He affirmed that the party does not support the casino bill at this time, citing other priorities, and reiterated that the incident should not cause discomfort among party members or the coalition.