Phiphat is ready to explain if facing a no-confidence debate, saying the Ministry of Transport faces scrutiny under every government. He notes the land bridge project has been canceled and stresses he is not involved in the senator vote rigging case. He reveals the Prime Minister has approved the Cabinet to consider appointment agendas at tomorrow's meeting.
At 13:10 on 17 August 2026 GMT+7. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, gave an interview at Government House regarding the opposition's intention to submit a no-confidence motion against the government. He said he is prepared if the opposition debates issues related to the Ministry of Transport and will clarify all points, regardless of the questions or topics raised. He is not worried.
When asked if he expects to be one of the targets based on past opposition critiques, Phiphat said the Ministry of Transport tends to be scrutinized under every government. Since the Prime Minister assigned him to oversee the ministry, he is ready to clarify and is not concerned. He will answer all questions and doubts raised by the opposition.
Asked how he is preparing as a minister targeted by the opposition, Phiphat replied that he does not think the Ministry of Transport is specifically targeted. Previously, under the last government, the focus was mainly on energy, which he no longer oversees. The land bridge project, once a point of contention, has now been canceled based on Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aekniti Nitithanprapas's study, which removed the term 'land bridge.' Therefore, he is unsure what topics the opposition will raise, but he will be ready to clarify if they discuss his ministry.
When questioned about confidence that there is no corruption in the Ministry of Transport, Phiphat answered that since he and his team have just begun working—less than two months in the previous term and nearly four months now—there is nothing to worry about, and he stated this frankly.
Reporters then asked about the opposition’s plan to bring up the senator vote rigging case. Phiphat revealed that the senator vote rigging issue is currently under investigation by the Election Commission (EC). Although there are two committees involved, he does not know their conclusions because the fact-finding team has not yet finalized or publicly disclosed any results. He said we must wait to see how the senator case develops. Regarding himself, he said he is not involved since his name is not among the 229 accused individuals.
Additionally, Phiphat was asked about whether the Cabinet meeting on 18 August would consider appointment and transfer agendas for director-general positions within the Ministry of Transport. He said there are none for the Ministry of Transport. Regarding appointments of permanent secretaries in other ministries, he has not seen any yet. He is waiting for signatures because the Prime Minister has approved allowing appointment proposals at the 18 August Cabinet meeting, but so far, he has not seen them.
When asked if there have been discussions about appointing the permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Energy, Phiphat said he does not know because he was not present at last week's Cabinet meeting as he was in Russia.