Another debate with Thairath Election 69 featured three political parties expressing their feelings about recurring tragedies in Thailand. They highlighted issues including corruption, safety, losses, and preventable factors related to these events.
At 17:38 on 30 Jan 2026 GMT+7 Another debate with Thairath Election 69 It has begun, with today's participants sharing their visions as follows: Mr. Weerayut Kanchuchat, Prachachon Party prime ministerial candidate; Mr. Paophum Rojanasakul, deputy leader of Pheu Thai Party; and Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, deputy leader of Bhumjaithai Party. The program was hosted by Kai Pongsakem Satyaprasert and was broadcast on Thairath TV Channel 32 and all Thairath Online platforms.
Before the first question, there was a video compilation showing various tragic events in Thailand throughout 2025 and early 2026. Examples included an earthquake causing the State Audit Office building to collapse, road subsidence, crane collapse in Nakhon Ratchasima province, and incidents on Rama 2 Road, all resulting in significant losses. The host then asked, "What do you think is happening in Thailand regarding these recurring tragedies?" Each participant was given two minutes to respond.
Mr. Paophum was the first to respond, saying there are two main issues: first, corruption and use of materials not meeting standards. Regarding corruption or construction in the contracting sector, many aspects can be seen—from budget acquisition, TOR issues, contractor tiers, to procurement bidding. Though e-bidding is used, the winning prices are only slightly below the median price. Problems also occur in work acceptance, resulting in poor-quality buildings and infrastructure, leading to damage.
The second aspect he wanted to mention is disaster management. The video should have included floods to highlight this issue. Earthquakes are a new occurrence. Under the government of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, management was swift, with command-line directives restoring confidence quickly. This contrasts with flood management in Hat Yai, which was preventable but lacked proper measures, causing many deaths among citizens.
Meanwhile, Mr. Siripong commented on this issue, saying corruption has been discussed since his childhood and still persists today. However, one thing the country pays too little attention to is safety. Focus on safety is far too limited. Today, procurement regulations mainly emphasize price. There are two types: collusion, which should never be done, and the lowest-price system. Our inspection systems have never established standards for safety measures.
For example, in road construction, contractors awarded contracts are those offering the lowest price. Though a concrete road may last 20 years, the warranty is only one year. Repairs are made during that year, but responsibility ends after, leaving 19 years unaccounted for. Standards for quality control should include post-completion responsibility. These issues are rarely discussed, and safety is even less addressed. Crane collapses have occurred repeatedly, not just twice. Rama 2 Road has faced numerous incidents. Safety is treated like a brush fire—no one seriously addresses it. Sometimes earthquake protection designs are included but later removed because it is said Thailand doesn't have earthquakes. Therefore, safety awareness is crucial.
Meanwhile, Mr. Weerayut began by expressing condolences to victims and their families and friends. He said it was truly painful. Having lived in Japan for a long time, he knows some accidents and disasters cannot be prevented, but many can—from construction through post-use. Looking at the images, many parts were preventable and should not have happened. Asked how he felt, his first reaction was sadness, followed by anger over why Thai people must face such risks now.
Looking back 10 years ago, no one might have thought this would happen in Thailand. But now, the question is why it keeps happening. It has become a recurring issue perceived as affecting everyone. It impacts areas where people avoid traveling via Rama 2 Road, harming local economies along the route. He felt past politics have brought the country to this risky, worrying point. A major change is needed; otherwise, such tragedies will recur, especially those preventable losses that should never happen. Preventable issues must be addressed—this is a fundamental principle.