"Lisa" criticized the sudden transfer of Phuket's governor and two deputies as merely a power struggle drama, pointing out that the public wants to know who supports officials to become so powerful that they fear no one.
On 16 June 2026, Ms. Pakamon Noon-anun, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Political Development, Mass Communication, and Public Participation, spoke about the transfer of Mr. Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Phuket's governor, and two deputy governors (the so-called 'Deputy Seafood' group) following leaked chat incidents. She said the government has lacked sincerity in addressing the problem from the start and noted that the transfer order came after a challenge questioning whether a deputy governor could have the power to transfer the governor. Ultimately, the governor was indeed removed, seeming to test who is most powerful and whether anyone felt their authority was insulted, turning the situation into a major spectacle that the public can see through.
Ms. Pakamon added she has clear information and evidence about extortion by a group of Phuket officials dating back to 2023, questioning why the Prime Minister only recently acted to transfer them. The 'Deputy Seafood' group is well known locally for their considerable influence and unusual connections. The culture of punishing by shuffling officials around no longer has the public's trust.
"If the Prime Minister is sincere about eradicating corruption, a thorough investigation should expose all those involved in the enormous benefits and reveal who supports these officials to grow so bold as to fear no one. Even the Interior Minister just recently learned about this. Simply transferring the parties involved to Nakhon Si Thammarat Province does not mean the mafia problem will disappear; it will only lead to continuous reshuffling across all 77 provinces without addressing the root cause. This matter will definitely be rigorously questioned in parliamentary sessions," Ms. Pakamon said.
Additionally, Ms. Pakamon addressed progress on the leaked chat case titled “Help Namngern” saying that this week, the committee will continue fact-finding by summoning the Permanent Secretary and the Interior Minister for explanations. Previously, Mr. Lertnara Narucha, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, did not appear personally but sent a deputy who could not answer any questions. The Director-General remains in office without disciplinary investigation. The committee has also invited the Election Commission to clarify issues of state official interference in elections and to outline how it will handle this to ensure transparency.