Two Rakchat Party prime ministerial candidates, Chaiwut and Jet, toured to pay respects to Luang Pho at Wat Jetsada, tasted the temple’s Lod Chong dessert, and visited Mahachai Market to listen to concerns about informal debt issues. They promoted a policy to assist small-scale people by enabling access to capital with just one ID card.
At 07:00 on 12 Jan 2026 GMT+7 in Samut Sakhon Province, two Rakchat Party prime ministerial candidates—Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn, party leader, and Jet Tonawanik—led a team of party list MP candidates including Ekpita Iamkong-ek, the party's economic policy team leader; Tassanai Thongmee, deputy party leader; Ratphoom Vallikul, party treasurer; Wasim Khan; Mozenkan Mekdara; and Fawad Khan Tiangtham, candidates for Bangkok constituency 18. They visited Samut Sakhon to pay respects at local sacred sites and hear livelihood concerns from residents.
They began at Wat Jetsadaram, a royal temple in Mahachai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province. The Rakchat Party team paid respects to Phra Thepsakornmuni (Sombun Panyawutho), the provincial ecclesiastical head, respectfully known by locals as "Luang Pho Wat Jetsada," to seek auspicious blessings for the upcoming election battle.
Next, Chaiwut and Jet visited the Wat Jetsada Lod Chong factory, a renowned local specialty. Jet’s name coincidentally sounds like "Wat Jetsada," which led to lighthearted jokes and smiles. The atmosphere was friendly, and they all tasted the Wat Jetsada Lod Chong, unanimously agreeing it was delicious. This reflected their commitment to supporting local products and Thailand's soft power.
Subsequently, the Rakchat Party team went to Mahachai Market to meet vendors and shoppers, listening to their feedback on economic hardships, especially concerning informal debt issues.
A flower vendor shared her struggles with harsh interest rates, revealing she had to borrow from informal lenders to sustain her business. She faced interest rates as high as 20% per 40-day cycle, with daily repayments. On slow sales days, she had to scramble to manage the money or, in some cases, flee when unable to cope.
Chaiwut and Jet presented the Rakchat Party’s solution focused on directly aiding small vendors by formalizing informal debts within the state banking system. They proposed simplifying borrowing conditions to require only a single ID card for loan applications, allowing vendors access to fair, prompt funding similar to informal loans but safer and with legally regulated lower interest rates. This proposal was warmly received by market vendors.
Additionally, the Rakchat Party team paid respects at the Samut Sakhon City Pillar Shrine and the city pillar itself to seek blessings and honor local sacred sites before departing. This visit demonstrated the party’s strategy emphasizing grassroots problem-solving and readiness to offer practical policies addressing livelihoods and debt issues immediately.