Atsit explained that his humble wai to the Prime Minister was to apologize on behalf of his subordinates. He confirmed he is not constantly shadowing the Prime Minister but only supporting some tasks on certain days.
On 10 Sep 2026, Atsit Sampantarat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, responded to MP Adisorn Piangkae’s presentation of a clip during the parliamentary budget meeting on 9 Sep 2026. The clip, recorded on 27 Aug 2026, showed him privately raising his hand in wai to Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul at the entrance of the Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House. The MP suggested the wai was a humble gesture because Atsit was not transferred. Atsit firmly denied this as untrue.
Atsit said that if the humble wai in the clip were to thank the Prime Minister for not transferring him as Permanent Secretary, “that is not the case.” If so, he would not have paid respects in that manner along the walkway, as there were many appropriate times and places to do so. He denied that the news spreading this interpretation had any basis in fact.
He further explained that the humble wai in the clip was an apology on behalf of himself and his team for having taken certain actions without authorization, mistakenly assuming the Prime Minister was informed and had approved them. He was descending from the second floor of the Thai Khu Fah Building and spoke with the Prime Minister, who revealed he was unaware of the matter, which caused Atsit to be shocked. As a subordinate, though not directly at fault, Atsit felt he should immediately express remorse for the mistake. He hurriedly apologized while passing the building’s entrance, where the media captured the moment and later linked it to transfer rumors, causing misunderstandings that affected the image of civil servants and the Ministry of Interior.
Atsit said he had previously not corrected the misinformation because he thought it trivial, but when an MP brought it up in the House of Representatives—a place for reasoned debate and reflection—he felt compelled to clarify to the media and public.
He reiterated that his following the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior on some days and missions is to support their work, as the Prime Minister assigns tasks to all departments and state enterprises under the Ministry through the Permanent Secretary. He emphasized that this does not happen every day but only on some days, as he also has his own duties and committee meetings. He values the directives and policies of his superiors and urges all subordinates to fully support their work. He often says, “If you want to walk far, walk together,” and stresses “act immediately.” As Governor of Lamphun Province, he led it to become the cleanest province and the first in Thailand to adopt a No Foam policy. Later, as Governor of Tak Province, he successfully controlled COVID-19 along the country’s longest border of 542 kilometers smoothly.
As Director-General of the Community Development Department, he promoted the “Know, Think, Observe, Act” approach and encouraged officials to engage deeply at the local level, building on past achievements to strengthen grassroots economies and communities, working closely with the public. As Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, he focused on internal security, suppressing offenses at entertainment venues with special task forces, supporting the Volunteer Defense Corps, and as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, he initiated the important “Interior Ministry Act Now Action 5” policy.
In closing, Atsit said these examples reflect his sincere and straightforward dedication to his duties, recognized and approved by his superiors, which he takes pride in as a civil servant continuing a family legacy dating back to his great-grandfather, a former provincial governor under the Ministry of Interior. He stated he does not cling to position if it is unfair but will fight against injustice. His rise to Permanent Secretary was due to the Prime Minister’s trust and kindness, with no lobbying involved. His closeness with the Prime Minister arises solely from working together over time.