Duangrutai struck back at Ploytalay, saying that since there was no flooding at the Government House, Ploytalay does not hear the heartfelt fears of southern people. She pointed out that villagers lie awake in fear as floodwaters approach, criticizing that although the government has plenty of top officials, it lacks proactive measures, mocking that they only sit reading reports in air-conditioned rooms.
On 24 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Duangrutai Buakaew, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party, addressed the response by Ploytalay Laksamee Saengchan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, who countered Duangrutai’s press statement. Duangrutai said Ploytalay’s rebuttal lacked substantive content to earn public trust. She questioned whether Ploytalay had truly visited affected areas to hear people’s troubles or merely followed the Prime Minister around, reading documents in air-conditioned rooms.
"Since floodwaters did not reach the Government House, Ploytalay fails to understand the fear and anxiety of southern residents who can't sleep. The heartbeats of those facing floods and heavy rain race with distress. The government says preparations have been made, but villagers still watch the sky and rain daily, anxiously waiting to see when floods will inundate their homes and who they can turn to in emergencies," Duangrutai said.
Duangrutai added that she speaks as a southerner voicing concerns directly to the government. Lessons from repeated floods in Hat Yai, Nan, and Bangkok have been learned countless times, yet the same mistakes recur. Particularly, the government’s past claim of controlling floods in Hat Yai ended with the whole city submerged. Disaster management is not about sitting and reading government reports claiming readiness; it requires experiencing reality and genuinely listening to citizens.
Furthermore, the government’s water management leadership is complete, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who chairs the regional flood prevention and mitigation committee, and key figures overseeing the south such as Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and Deputy Interior Minister Worasilp Liangprasit. Thus, there is no reason the government cannot have better proactive measures.
Duangrutai emphasized that what she calls for is advance prevention, not waiting for disasters to trap citizens in their homes before leaders visit the area to stir appearances by standing and cooking food. This rainy season is a crucial test of whether the government’s preparations are truly effective to genuinely protect the lives and property of southern people.