Sukhumbhand denies deputy quit over row

“There’s no problem between us,” Sukhumbhand said after he named Vallop Suwandee as the new deputy governor.
Sukhumbhand said he and Pornthep had been friends for more than three decades and it was Pornthep who said from the very beginning that he planned to serve as a deputy Bangkok governor for just two years.
“Now, he has worked in the post for more than two years already,” the city governor said.
While insisting that Pornthep had a personal reason for his resignation, Sukhumbhand expressed his hope of delivering his best performance in his last year as Bangkok governor.
He said he had discussed his ambi?tion with his team members during the past few months.
“I’ve explained that I have reserved the right to reshuffle my team for max?imum efficiency. If there’s someone else who can work better in a position, change will need to be made,” Sukhumbhand said, “But that does not mean I have personal conflict with my team members. It’s just that I focus on performances more than personal ties”.
Asked whether Pornthep was forced to resign because of his rare media appearances during the flood crisis late last year, Sukhumbhand said he did not think media coverage was an indicator of a deputy Bangkok gov?ernor’s performance.
Pornthep stood by Sukhumbhand’s explanation yesterday. He said he had indeed told Sukhumbhand from the very beginning he would work as a deputy Bangkok governor for just two years.
“I have had a personal reason. My eldest son has had brain problems and been hospitalised for three months. His doctor recommends I closely tend to him,” Pornthep said.
He said Sukhumbhand would be in the Bangkok governor’s post for just one more year and he should get a new deputy who could devote full attention to the work.
“I have had no problems with the Bangkok governor. We are still friends,” Pornthep said. He added that politi?cally speaking, he would continue to help with the Democrat Party’s work.
Sukhumbhand and Pornthep are both members of the Democrat Party.