Bangkok: Rangsiman Rome, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, has called for the removal of Captain Thammanat Prompao from the Cabinet, citing actions that are unacceptable to the public and erode confidence in the government. Rangsiman expressed his dissatisfaction with Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s approach to tackling scammers, emphasizing that it should be treated as a national agenda. He warned that if the opposition parties do not address the issue, he is prepared to submit a censure motion.

According to Thai News Agency, Rangsiman, who also serves as chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on State Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and Reform, highlighted the lack of progress in Thailand compared to other countries in addressing scams. He suggested that if the Prime Minister is committed, various agencies are ready to act. The issue, he argued, lies in the ambiguity surrounding the lack of action, whether due to insufficient evidence, information, or political connections. He pointed out that while there has been progress in some cases, the Print Group remains stagnant, underscoring the reality of these challenges.

Rangsiman also expressed hope for a discussion on the matter with the Prime Minister during a closed meeting with Captain Thammanat, noting Thammanat’s uncooperative behavior and legal threats against the media. He raised suspicions of gray capital connections to Thammanat, arguing that retaining him as Deputy Prime Minister undermines government confidence in tackling scams. He urged Prime Minister Anutin to act, warning that inaction would lead to public scrutiny.

Rangsiman criticized Anutin’s stance on scammers, questioning his commitment to the national agenda and tangible actions against the issue. He called for concrete progress on individual connections, emphasizing the importance of following the money trail. He outlined two levels of investigation: financial and legal, emphasizing the need for evidence collection and submission to relevant agencies.

Rangsiman asserted that the expectation is for the Prime Minister to remove Thammanat from the Cabinet due to public unacceptability of his past behavior. He stated that retaining Thammanat would harm public administration and emphasized the readiness to use available information for a no-confidence debate. He noted the importance of dialogue between opposition parties to ensure successful motions.

Highlighting issues within the political and civil sectors, including police involvement in gambling, Rangsiman stressed the need for reform and confidence restoration. He concluded by acknowledging the Prime Minister’s legal right to dissolve Parliament if a no-confidence motion is filed but questioned the public perception and potential benefits to gray groups.