Thai Acting PM Transfers Governor Over Mismanaged Aid Funds

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) – Thailand’s acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has ordered the immediate transfer of the governor of Ubon Ratchathani province, citing severe mismanagement of funds.

Phumtham, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, stated that the governor was transferred for failing to properly disburse a 100-million-baht budget for aid to citizens affected by the Thai-Cambodian border situation.

The governor had only disbursed 55,600 baht of the allocated funds, instead using public donations for the relief efforts. Meanwhile, neighboring provinces such as Surin had a high disbursement of 55.1 million baht, Sisaket 46.8 million baht, and Buriram 14.1 million baht.

Phumtham explained that he had instructed the Interior Ministry’s Permanent Secretary to transfer the governor for “administrative assistance,” with a senior inspector to serve as the acting governor.

The move was a direct response to the governor’s failure to act on the funds and was necessary to ensure the swift delivery of aid to the affected population. -819 (TNA)