Senator Prem Sak criticizes the Prime Minister and ministers for evading parliamentary questions, condemning the government as event-driven for traveling en masse to Chiang Mai. He warns against arrogance in power and extending control over independent organizations.
At 14:00 on 20 April 2026 at the Parliament, Dr. Prem Sak Piyura, a member of the Senate, spoke regarding the Prime Minister and ministers not attending to answer Senate questions. He said that during the past 10 days, when the government presented its policy statement at the joint parliamentary session on 9-10 April, the speech was merely empty words claiming respect for parliamentary scrutiny through questions and motions. However, today, the Senate has live questions and three advance written questions, which he had submitted since the Anutin 1 government. When the parliament was dissolved, those questions lapsed, so he resubmitted them. These three questions are straightforward and easy to prepare answers for. Additionally, there are three oral questions. Yet, no minister has been assigned by the government to respond to the Senate questions—not the Prime Minister nor any of the 35 ministers.35 ministers.They claim to be busy flying to inspectthe PM 2.5 pollution issuein Chiang Mai province, but they only stayed for three hours before returning. If this matter is truly important, whydid they not stay for three days?Meanwhile, Chiang Mai residents have lived with this problem their entire lives.
"If I were tolabelthis government, it would be an event-driven government, not an e-government, because it goesto create events,conducts psychological PR, and then returns to the status quo. I want to see whether after the Prime Minister's visit to Chiang Mai, the PM 2.5 levels will decrease, and how the government will continue to address the issue effectively. More importantly, is it necessary for all 35 ministers to go together, completely ignoring parliamentary duties? Or does this government look down on and disregard the people? When the Senate asks questions, it reflects the people's hardships. The Prime Minister claims to uphold the parliamentary system but clearly does not prioritize the parliament."
Dr. Prem Sak added,the PM 2.5 problemhas existed even before the Anutin 1 government. So why has it only been seriously addressed now? The ministers who should answer the questions could have requested permission from the Prime Minister to attend. I consider this a failure to take responsibility toward the people, merely invoking the public to save themselves day by day. Therefore, next week there will be three more live questionsand the same three written questions.I will observe whether the Prime Minister will pay attention to parliamentary work and assign ministers to answerat least one question.If no minister responds, I express my advance regret that the government will continue to neglect its duties, become intoxicated with power, and increasingly distance itself from the people. Today, the government controls the majority, believing it can dominate both the lower and upper houses, and is even extending its reach to independent organizations.