The opposition whip demands Industry Minister Worawut's removal over the Xin Ke Yuan issue, criticizing him as fluent in English but lacking steel industry knowledge. They emphasize that the industrial sector is no place for amateurs and question how steel quality can pass without proper furnaces.
On 19 June 2026, Chayanan Ketmek, Member of Parliament for Nong Bua Lamphu Province Constituency 1 from the Kla Tham Party and opposition whip, commented on Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co., Ltd.'s recent license to resume operations. He said this is not just a problem with one factory but a major issue undermining confidence in Thailand's industrial system, especially the steel industry, which directly affects national public safety.
Chayanan stated that the government continues to tell the public to rely on documents, but people's questions go beyond paperwork. Buildings, shops, homes, schools, hospitals, and other structures that protect Thai citizens daily—are they truly built with steel meeting standards? Who inspects and certifies this, and who is accountable if errors affect citizens' lives rather than just appearing on paper?
“The Xin Ke Yuan issue cannot be resolved by saying the documents passed, because what people want is not just a set of papers but confidence that every steel beam used in this country is genuinely safe and meets standards, and that no powerful interests exploit gaps to restart operations while society remains uneasy,” Chayanan said.
He added that this case reflects serious management problems at the Ministry of Industry. So far, society has not received clear explanations about production standards, quality control systems, government inspections, or doubts about the steel from this company. Yet the administration keeps evading questions, speaking vaguely and unwilling to face public concerns directly.
“The Industry Minister must understand that industrial work cannot be managed by amateurs. This ministry deals with factories, machinery, product standards, pollution, safety, and people's lives. If the minister lacks knowledge, understanding, and leadership to explain such a critical national issue, he should step aside for someone more suitable,” Chayanan said.
He noted the current minister may be skilled in speaking English but the Ministry of Industry requires more than language ability. It demands real knowledge, decisive leadership, understanding of industrial systems, and responsibility for public safety. If the minister is more comfortable with foreign affairs, he should work in that field rather than managing the Industry Ministry amid a national crisis of steel standard confidence.
“Today, the opposition is not asking for political games but on behalf of the entire nation: Is the Industry Minister still fit to hold this position? If he cannot answer societal questions, cannot reassure the public, and can only hide behind documents, then it is time for the government to urgently consider replacing him,” Chayanan said.
Chayanan emphasized that the government must not let the Xin Ke Yuan case become an example of "documents pass but the people fail." The country's confidence is measured not by signatures on paper but by citizens' trust that when they look up at buildings overhead, they do not have to wonder if the steel protecting their heads is truly safe or safe only on official documents.
“If the government insists on keeping a minister who lacks the weight to handle such a serious issue, it means it values protecting the minister's position over protecting people's safety. The opposition will not allow this matter to disappear buried under paperwork,” Chayanan concluded.