"Lisa" believes that if "Anutin" truly listened to the people's problems, he might become completely deaf, not just numb like when listening to big business. She criticizes the Prime Minister's words as appearing to be those of a subordinate to big business and urges opening Government House to allow distressed citizens to access it just like tycoons.
On 16 May 2026, Ms. Phakamon Noonanan, a party-list MP and spokesperson for the People’s Party (Popchon), commented on Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s meeting at Government House with 35 tycoons and CEOs. She said that as the government tries to find solutions to the country's economic crisis, listening and talking to big business is appropriate. However, she urged the government to hold discussions without bias, since whether the economy improves or not, the first to be affected are grassroots citizens. The government’s choice to talk only with these business groups might make people feel the government isn’t trying to break monopolies. She noted that the government has never invited fishermen, farmers, delivery riders, or southern citizens who oppose and question the land bridge project to Government House. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was smiling warmly with the tycoons, perhaps because they share the same social class and he feels comfortable speaking with them. But since Anutin is Prime Minister, she hopes he balances and considers the feelings of citizens so they don’t feel they are fighting alone, as those seeking solutions with the government are always business tycoons. Today, the government must make citizens feel it is solving problems for them and standing alongside them.
The Popchon spokesperson stated that it is undeniable that economic power is concentrated in a few business groups, and while the government cannot avoid talking with them, it must ensure that citizens have the same access to the government as these business groups do.
When asked if the government is currently prioritizing big business over citizens in solving the country’s problems, Ms. Phakamon replied affirmatively. She asked whether grassroots fishermen and those still suffering from the oil hoarding crisis have recovered. Delivery riders who have tried to engage with the shadow cabinet have never been heard, yet the government opens Government House to big business. The Prime Minister listens to big business but claims to be numb to their voices. If he truly listened to the people's problems, he might become deaf. She urged the government not to choose which voices to hear or discriminate because the Prime Minister represents all groups and classes. She hopes the government will consider holding open forums to listen to citizens in person, especially grassroots people rather than only business elites at the table. It may not require discussions involving tens or hundreds of billions of baht but must show sincerity.
"When the Prime Minister says he feels numb after listening, it communicates that he seems like a subordinate to big business. Yet the people who deserve to be heard are the citizens. Comparing the Prime Minister’s reaction to business problems as numb, I affirm that if he heard the people's problems, he would be deaf. At least today, the government has opened Government House to big business; it should also open it to truly distressed citizens, then balance and compile the information to solve the problems," the Popchon spokesperson said.