The deputy spokesperson of the Kla Tham Party criticized the government for paving the way for Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company to resume operations, yet failing to answer public questions about whether the steel truly meets safety standards or if it is just paperwork approval.
At 11:00 a.m. on 7 Jun 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Peerawat Somwong, deputy spokesperson of the Kla Tham Party, commented on the case of Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company being allowed to reopen. He said the government and relevant agencies must provide a detailed and straightforward public explanation. It is unacceptable to quietly handle such a major issue involving public safety behind bureaucratic doors and expect society to accept just the phrase "passed the criteria."
Mr. Peerawat stated that meeting air pollution standards and passing operational trials may be preliminary legal conditions but do not serve as a certificate of innocence for all doubts. These are not the final answers regarding the safety of steel in the market, especially since this company has a history of product standard concerns, previous product seizures, and has caused widespread public worry.
"Do not use the term ‘passed the criteria’ as a blanket cover for every problem, because the public is not only asking whether the smokestack passed standards. They are asking if the steel leaving this factory is truly safe, genuinely strong, and will no longer pose risks to homes, schools, hospitals, or public buildings." Mr. Peerawat added.
The deputy spokesperson of the Kla Tham Party further said that operational trials under government supervision and actual commercial production are entirely different matters. Therefore, the government must clarify how it will conduct random inspections after permitting the factory to reopen — when, by which agency, using what standards, and whether the inspection results will be made public.
"If the government is confident it is safe, it must disclose the information. Do not act as if citizens have no right to know. Do not treat steel as an issue only for the factory and a few officials, because when buildings collapse and lives are lost, it is the people who suffer, not those who signed the documents."
Mr. Peerawat emphasized that the Kla Tham Party, as the opposition, does not oppose entrepreneurs who comply with the law. However, it cannot accept if the government chooses to “close the door on inspections, remain silent in responses, and allow operations to proceed” without sufficiently building public trust. This matter is not merely business but concerns public safety and the credibility of Thailand’s industrial regulatory system.
The deputy spokesperson continued that the government must disclose all details the public should know, including steel standard inspection results, test reports, quality control processes, random inspection plans after reopening, measures to prevent substandard products from reaching the market, and the accountability of government agencies if problems recur.
"The question is simple: Does the government dare to disclose all inspection results, allow independent experts to conduct re-inspections, and let the public observe the regulatory process? If so, then disclose it. But if not, do not be angry if the public suspects there is something to hide." Mr. Peerawat said.
He concluded that the Xin Ke Yuan case is a test of whether this government will stand with the people or side with bureaucratic convenience and industrial capital. Public safety should not be reduced to merely a stamp on official documents.
"A single steel beam does not just support a girder or a pillar; it supports lives, families, and the nation’s trust. If the government cannot answer this, it should not rush to declare everything is fine, because for the public, this matter is far from over."