At 12:30 PM on 8 Feb, Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak, a well-known actor, cast his ballot at Polling Station 15 in Chomphon Subdistrict, Chatuchak District, Election Zone and Voting Area 8, Bangkok, located near the Susco gas station on Vibhavadi Soi 20.
After voting, Pong Nawat said that voting is a duty of Thai citizens. Last time, 70 percent of people voted, and this time he hopes even more will participate. For him, no matter how busy with work or travel—whether in the provinces or abroad—he would reschedule to exercise his voting right. He feels strongly about choosing our representatives. Normally, he is used to voting with two ballots, but today there was also a referendum ballot. Everything was clear, though everyone needs to be careful to avoid mistakes. The election staff handled everything smoothly.
Personally, he hopes for those we elect to focus on fighting corruption, bribery, and shadowy financial interests that hold back our country's progress. Thailand has good resources and talented people, and he wants these issues eliminated. He has seen all parties campaigning seriously on this matter and hopes the focus stays on eradicating these problems.
He believes politics today has changed a lot. People follow and understand politics more, and oversight has made everything more transparent. In the past, things might have been covered up in the shadows. He urges citizens not to get bored or discouraged because if we lose interest, corruption could increase. We must help monitor and stay engaged. Now, we no longer compete only within Thailand but against the Asian region and the world. We must develop all aspects. He asks politicians to fulfill their promises, as everyone invests time and money traveling back to vote. This is a serious matter, not a game. He calls on elected officials to remember that the future of Thailand is a shared responsibility; whether right or wrong, we must accept and work together.
