Anutin expressed regret for not visiting Kriang Kalptinan during his prior illness and declined to comment after being observed meeting Thaksin at the funeral.
At 09:00 on 14 August 2026, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul spoke about attending the funeral rites of Kriang Kalptinan, a leader of the Pheu Thai Party, in Ubon Ratchathani. He said he had to attend because Kriang was his former Deputy Minister of Interior (Interior Ministry No. 3). They had a warm relationship, showing kindness to each other, and he knew Kriang was a widely respected senior figure in Ubon Ratchathani.
He added that he felt sorry for not visiting Kriang while he was ill and was unaware that his condition had become quite serious last week. Kriang was only in his early seventies.