Phiphat vows that Surachet does not demand construction kickbacks, stressing principles of government administration with an emphasis on transparency. He challenges MPs to scrutinize his work, guaranteeing that as a minister in three ministries, he has never faced corruption complaints.
At 16:20 GMT+7. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. He explained during the debate on the draft budget bill for fiscal year 2027. MP Surachet Praveenwongwut, party-list MP from the People’s Party. He challenged a public announcement in parliament that he would not accept kickbacks, saying that upon becoming Minister of Transport, lacking professional engineering expertise, he needed time to study and carefully consider all operations across land, air, water, and rail. He pledged to do his best, continue ongoing projects to completion, and rejected claims that no mistakes occur in ministerial roles, viewing errors as lessons that strengthen leadership.
Phiphat continued that regarding Surachet’s demand to declare he would not accept kickbacks, he affirmed that during his two terms at the Ministry of Transport, he has neither seen nor wished to see such practices. He expressed sincere commitment and confidence that time will prove whether his tenure differs from previous ones. He aims to perform to the best of his ability, not relying on inexperienced trainees to manage a large ministry.
Although lacking engineering expertise, he applies a business management perspective: a business owner cannot afford losses and must make profits. However, as a minister, the priority is to serve the public as much as possible. Government administration aims only to break even, not to profit, since all funds come from taxpayers. Transparency is paramount, with cost reduction as a key goal. Management need not profit in every aspect; the Ministry of Transport should facilitate public convenience without generating profits. Having served in three ministries—Tourism and Sports, Labor, and Transport—he is confident there has been no corruption or complaints against him.
“Now, serving in the Ministry of Transport, which has nearly the highest budget, I will prove how well I can maintain my previous character and stance in this larger ministry. I will not explain further but invite members to continue their scrutiny.”