Phuket Officials Complain of Unfair Transfer to Parliament Committee

Thansettakij•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Phuket provincial officials, including the Permanent Secretary and four district chiefs, have petitioned a parliamentary committee, alleging unfair transfers orchestrated by the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration.

•Phuket Permanent Secretary and four district chiefs filed a complaint with the House of Representatives Committee on Political Development, Media, and Public Participation regarding unfair transfers.
•The officials allege their transfer to the Department of Provincial Administration was initiated by the Director-General, bypassing the authority of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
•Concerns were raised about the motives behind the transfers, lack of fact-finding, potential damage to the department's reputation, and leaked confidential personnel documents.
•Allegations also include a lack of political neutrality and the use of authority to aid specific political parties during recent elections.

Overview

•On May 28, 2026, a complaint was submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Political Development, Media, and Public Participation.
•Phuket Permanent Secretary and provincial administrative officials complained about unfair transfers.
•The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration issued the transfer order, which officials argued was not within their purview.
•The transfers involved officials who managed areas such as Bang Thao Beach, Freedom Beach, and Nui Beach, areas linked to influential figures and political groups.
•The unfair transfer order significantly impacts the image and credibility of the Department of Provincial Administration.
•The officials also raised allegations of political neutrality breaches and using authority to assist certain political parties during the recent election.
•Leaked confidential personal documents of the transferred officials raised further concerns.
•The case is proceeding to the justice system and parliamentary review for fairness to the affected individuals.

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Source: Thansettakij (Original)

Key Quotes

Anonymous

"We were unfairly transferred."

พวกเราถูกโยกย้ายอย่างไม่เป็นธรรม

Narumon Naonan

"There are still many influential groups in Phuket Province involved in public land encroachment cases, with high-ranking officials in the area behind them."

ยังมีกลุ่มผู้มีอิทธิพลในจังหวัดภูเก็ตอีกจำนวนมาก ซึ่งเกี่ยวข้องกับคดีบุกรุกพื้นที่สาธารณะ และมีข้าราชการระดับสูงในพื้นที่อยู่เบื้องหลัง

Key Entities

Person

Phuket Permanent Secretary(ปลัดภูเก็ต)

The official who led the complaint against alleged unfair transfers.

4 District Chiefs(4 นายอำเภอ)

District chiefs from Phuket who joined the complaint regarding unfair transfers.

MP Chalermpong(สส.เฉลิมพงศ์)

Member of Parliament for Phuket and a member of the People's Party, who received the complaint.

Nang Sao Phakamon Noonanan(นางสาวภคมน หนุนอนันต์)

Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Political Development, Media, and Public Participation.

Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee(นายเฉลิมพงศ์ แสงดี)

Member of Parliament (MP) for Phuket Province, People's Party.

Mr. Rungrueng Timabutr(นายรุ่งเรือง ธิมาบุตร)

Phuket Provincial Permanent Secretary who lodged the complaint.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior(ปลัดกระทรวงมหาดไทย)

The ultimate authority for appointment and transfer decisions, which was allegedly bypassed.

Phuket Mueang District Chief(นายอำเภอเมืองภูเก็ต)

District Chief of Phuket Mueang, one of the complainants.

Kathu District Chief(นายอำเภอกะทู้)

District Chief of Kathu, one of the complainants.

Thalang District Chief(นายอำเภอถลาง)

District Chief of Thalang, one of the complainants.

Phuket Provincial Security Official(ป้องกันจังหวัดภูเก็ต)

The Provincial Security Official of Phuket, who was among those transferred and complained.

Phuket Provincial Vice Governor(รองผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดภูเก็ต)

Provincial Vice Governor of Phuket, allegedly connected to the influential groups.

Subdistrict Headman(กำนัน)

Local village leaders allegedly instructed to assist specific political groups by the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration.

Village Headman(ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน)

Local village leaders allegedly instructed to assist specific political groups by the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration.

Prime Minister(นายกรัฐมนตรี)

The head of the government, addressed in the call for transparency and honesty.

Minister of Interior(รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงมหาดไทย)

The cabinet minister responsible for the Ministry of Interior, addressed alongside the Prime Minister.

Organization

House of Representatives Committee on Political Development, Media, and Public Participation(กรรมาธิการการพัฒนาการเมืองฯ สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The parliamentary committee that received the complaint from Phuket officials.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party of MP Chalermpong.

Department of Provincial Administration(กรมการปกครอง)

The department whose Director-General issued the transfer orders which are being contested.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)

The ministry overseeing provincial administration, to which the officials were transferred.

Law

Authority to order appointments or postings(อำนาจในการสั่งบรรจุหรือแต่งตั้ง)

The legal power related to personnel appointments and transfers.

Place

Bang Thao Beach area(พื้นที่หาดบางเทา)

A location managed by the transferred officials, linked to alleged political activities and influential figures.

Freedom Beach(หาดฟรีด้อม)

A location managed by the transferred officials, linked to alleged political activities and influential figures.

Nui Beach(หาดนุ้ย)

A location managed by the transferred officials, linked to alleged political activities and influential figures.