Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai has added his voice to the political clamour against people in power trying to "suck" former MPs into joining another party which has their backing, saying they are still trapped in old-style dirty politics,
Pheu Thai would let voters decide the fate of MPs who switch sides, and this would provide a crucial lesson to politicians with no political ideology, Mr Phumtham said on Tuesday.
He was responding to moves by former MPs from several parties, but particularly from Pheu Thai, who are expected to defect to a new party with links to the current regime.
In attempting to "suck" experienced former MPs over to their side, these people showed they had not made the jump away from the old-style nam nao (dirty) politics.
It was evident they were trying to prolong their hold on power by bringing these old faces into their fold, and would resort to any means needed to do it, he said.
It came as no surprise that every time a general election is announced, attempts to steal former MPs begin, said Mr Phumtham.
Since the previous military coup in 2006, old politicians have been trying to persuade other former MPs to switch camps, he said.
Those now in power had backed a politician with the initial “Sor’’, who was to the forefront of the political group masterminding the "sucking" of former MPs from the dissolved former Thai Rak Thai party to his new party, the Pheu Thai secretary-general said.
However, the results of past elections showed most defectors could not make their way into parliament, he said. Voters were fully aware that the objectives of those politicians were money and other benefits.
“A former parliament president from Thai Rak Thai, Uthai Pimchaichon, used to compare MPs to “ fighting cocks’’, he said.
"If the cocks lose, they are sold by putting them on a scale, and each is priced at a few hundred baht.
"But winning cocks can fetch several hundred thousand baht. So they have to bear in mind that they must not lose.
"Many people may think money is a crucial factor in bringing them victory in an election, but they must not look down on people. People decide who they will vote for, and they take into account the benefits to the country and to their own communities,’’ Mr Phumtham said.
He cited the last general election, that saw the Pheu Thai party win a landslide victory. He said voters spoke of “getting money from dogs, but voting for Pheu Thai".