Pitakdej sharply condemned the government for failing to address flooding in the south, urging them to stop public displays of walking through water and handing out rice in competition with MPs, and warned that Hatyai's economy is on the brink of collapse due to these failures.
On 8 April 2026, Mr. Pitakdej Deddecho, Member of Parliament for Nakhon Si Thammarat from the Democrat Party, supported a motion by Mr. Juree Numkaew proposing the establishment of a special committee to study integrated flood management reforms known as the “Hatyai Model.” Pitakdej pointed out the government's severe failure in disaster management affecting the southern region, especially Hatyai District in Songkhla Province.
Pitakdej identified three critical blind spots: Before the flood, the government lacked systematic preparedness, such as preemptive water drainage, removal of waterway obstructions, and installation of pumps at risk points. Instead, action was often only taken after flooding occurred, which is a reactive and inefficient approach.
During the flood, the command system was disorganized and overlapping. Although ultimate authority rested with the Prime Minister, mismanagement led to chaotic rescue operations and an absence of local leadership to effectively guide officials to bedridden patients and vulnerable groups.
After the flood, relief efforts addressing psychological and economic recovery were significantly delayed, leaving business owners and residents to suffer property losses without clear support or assistance.
Pitakdej delivered a strong message to the Prime Minister: “The era of leaders wading through floodwaters alone is over.” He emphasized that tasks like handing out boxed meals, cooking, or visiting to encourage residents should be the responsibility of local MPs. What people expect from the Prime Minister is “the mindset and intelligence” to command and manage disasters cohesively under the law, to protect lives and property swiftly.
Pitakdej also relayed concerns from Hatyai’s business community, a key economic engine of the south. He cited a third-generation entrepreneur expressing that Hatyai is facing a compounded crisis from flooding and energy prices, exclaiming, “Oh no... everything’s ruined.” This reflects a crisis of confidence and economic collapse that the government must urgently address with concrete measures, rather than simply waiting for the crisis to pass and then forgetting it as in the past.