Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung totally rejected allegations on Thursday that a 15-year-old girl who came looking for her father at the House of Representatives is his daughter.
Mr Chalerm, on Thursday, told reporters that the claim made by opposition Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong was untrue.
Chalerm says he's "700% sure" that the teenage girl is not his daughter. (Photos by Thiti Wannamontha and Facebook)
Mr Watchara earlier told a press conference that the girl, whose name is Wayu-Hasthep Yubamrung, was refused access to the House of Representatives’ premises when she came looking for her father.
He said the girl was carrying a three-month-old baby in her arms. Mr Watchara said a Democrat Party staffer approached her afterwards, when she was sitting at the bus stop in front of the building.
He said she told him she left some official documents with the parliament staff which stated that Mr Chalerm was her father.
Mr Chalerm was adamant this was not the case.
“I am 700% sure that she is not my daughter. I don’t have a daughter, but I really would like one because I only have sons,” he said.
He told reporters that he had not seen the girl’s picture, which was shown to the press by the opposition MP, and asked journalists to provide him with one.
He also said that many people use Yubamrung as their family name. Many Thais who were not related have the same surnames, he said.
The veteran politician also said his family name is an old name used by many people.
Later, netizens posted the picture of the girl on social media. It was taken from an advertising poster, which seemed to support Mr Chalerm's statement.
Democrat MP Watchara tells reporters that the girl in the photo is Chalerm's daughter. (Post Today Photo)
Mr Watchara later held another press conference and insisted that the teenage girl in the picture came to the House of Representatives about 5pm on Wednesday.
"You can check the footage from security cameras to verify my story," he added.
He said he could not confirm whether the girl is, in fact, Mr Chalerm’s daughter, but if she came again he would be glad to co-ordinate a meeting between the two of them.
However, later on Thursday, the girl in the picture, whose actual name is Amena "Ice" Kul, told reporters she was mystified by the Democrat lawmaker's claim.
"I'm definitely not Mr Chalerm's daughter. My father is a Pakistani who is working abroad," said Ms Amena, who is a model and actress with aspirations for fame. Her mother is Thai.
Amena starred in a Thai film called Ruk Sud Teen (Love You So Much) along with Thai superstar and heartthrob Mario Maurer. She recently played a supporting actress role in a popular soap opera on Channel 3.