DJ offers a fresh change
Suharit Siamwalla presents himself as the first of a new breed in the local political arena. He tells The Nation why he decided to throw out his two hats - one as a DJ with a passion in electronic music and the other as the owner of a stationery company -
"I’ve been thinking about it for a long time because I, like many others, have been irritated by Thai politics. At some point we need to stop complaining and get up to do something about it. I don’t mean to surprise anyone, but I want change," he said.
Known as an "electronic wizard", the 45-year-old has been able to mobilise supporters by using social media as a campaign tool. Instead of calling a press conference, he preferred to announce his decision to run for the Bangkok governor’s post on Twitter. In the indie world, Suharit is an unorthodox artist who goes against conventional norms in music, art and attire.
"I am at the right age to create change. I have some experience and freshness to bring about positive change."
The DJ of Indian descent said one of his election slogans is "Surprise BKK, Fun BKK, Suharit Runs BKK", adding that he had many surprises up his sleeve.
"I am not selling dreams or myself, I am selling a team of competent people in their 40s who can help me push for change," he said.
Voters may not get to see Suharit’s campaign posters on the street because he believes he has found a more efficient and economical way of communicating with them. Apart from contacting voters through the social media, he will seek volunteers to print out brochures from his website and distribute them in different districts.
Suharit said his target group was not just young people who used social media, but he also wants people in their 40s and 50s, especially the 2 million who failed to exercise their voting right in previous elections. to consider him a new alternative for the governor’s post.
