Bangkok: Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has addressed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's intentions to reshuffle officials within the Ministry of Interior, emphasizing his commitment to resolving issues swiftly within a four-month timeframe. He highlighted the necessity of these transfers, while questioning the ethical implications raised by Anutin.
According to Thai News Agency, Phumtham noted that the previous Minister of Interior had already transferred 20 to 30 officials, urging a thorough investigation into the fairness of these actions. He assured that his efforts to address the situation are ongoing, with several officials already being reassigned. Phumtham stressed the importance of ethical considerations in these transfers, inviting the Prime Minister to examine the motives and fairness behind the decisions.
Phumtham expressed that although he had not yet transferred the governor of Buriram, he acknowledged the rapid promotion of the former Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, who had a short tenure in the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. He suggested that various reasons justified the transfer, emphasizing that his actions were not intended to restore justice or for moral reasons, but to ensure effective administration.
Regarding the empowerment to manage transfers, Phumtham affirmed his right to reassign officials as needed. He clarified that the directors-general affected by these changes could be scrutinized for any misconduct, asserting that the transfers were conducted to facilitate competent and appropriate governance. He concluded by stating that all involved directors-general possess the capability to perform their duties effectively.