Prime Minister's Office permanent secretary ML Panadda Diskul has apologised to members of provincial administration organisations after offending them with his Facebook comments.
"I simply want to see the sufficiency principle applied and good checks and balances among different organisations," says ML Panadda. (File photo by Kitja Apichonrojarek)
"I never intended to make a blanket accusation against anyone. I simply want to see the sufficiency principle applied and good checks and balances among different organisations," he wrote on the social network on Monday.
"The chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) does not want to see more conflicts among Thais, including all officials. I'm also friends with many PAO executives, dating back to when I was governor of several provinces.
"I therefore apologise if I offended anyone and will continue to cooperate with everyone for the good of our country," the former deputy interior permanent secretary wrote.
On Aug 23, ML Panadda wrote: "I was told a PAO spent money freely, as if were it were its own. As if business class was not enough, its chairman flew first-class and drank wine costing 100,000 baht a bottle.
"Even so, he demanded shrimp paste, chili paste and fish sauce to go with his [airline] meal, causing trouble for the crew. His secretary in the economy class also had to kneel on the floor for an hour to take his orders.
"He also bought a vacation house in Europe in his friend's name. Such behaviour shocked me and everyone else. What kind of a politician will he be if he runs for national office?" he said. He did not name the official.
Chaimongol Chairop, chairman of the Provincial Administration Organization of Thailand, said earlier on Monday local politicians at PAOs nationwide were being encouraged to wear black in protest at ML Panadda's comment.
He urged ML Panadda to be specific in his criticism. Such a blanket accusation tarnished the reputation of all PAOs.
If this is a pretext for dissolving local administration organisations such as the PAOs, he should make it clear and need not defame other people like this, Mr Chaimongol said.
"As a high official, he should be more fair-minded and less clouded by personal feelings," Mr Chaimongol said.
Chatri Yooprasert, deputy chairman of the Ayutthaya PAO and secretary general of the Provincial Administration Organisation of Thailand, agreed ML Panadda's comments tarnished the PAOs' image in general.
Research and studies have shown people are happy with the performance of PAOs, which are closer to the people.
To the villagers, the PAOs are also more concrete and responsive to local needs than regional bodies, Mr Chatri said.
"ML Panadda's comments do not apply to all PAOs. More importantly, no state budget was used for such a spending spree - if it existed at all - because all expenses by PAOs are closely tracked by local councils, as well as the Auditor General's Office," he said.
In Ubon Ratchathani, some 100 PAO officials, led by chairman Pornchai Kowsurat, wore black to work and carried some placards in protest at the PM's office secretary's comments.
"ML Panadda's comments imply the PAOs are not transparent even though we are closely watched by the local people and councils. We are also audited by the Auditor General's Office, National anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Office on a regular basis."
Since the May 22 coup, there have been concerns about the reversal of the decentralisation process, especially in the provinces. An NCPO edict freezing local elections and replacing vacant local government seats with appointees aggravated these fears. As a consequence, local elected politicians tend to be more insecure about their status.
Members of the Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) in Phrae(above) and other provinces wore black and gave a thumbs-down, bringing a limited apology from Prime Minister's Office permanent secretary ML Panadda Diskul, who had claimed many were living ostentatiously off their positions. (Photo by Thaweesak Sukkhasem)