Sukhumbhand names ex-police chief Amnuay to replace Wichai

Sukhumbhand said yesterday that he had also appointed former city clerk Banjong Sukdee as another adviser. 

Wichai said he tendered his resignation effective February 1 due to his growing uneasiness and difficulty working for the city administration amid the ongoing conflict between Sukhumbhand and the Democrat Party.

“People who are devoted to their job feel uncomfortable when they see some officials not putting their heart into the job or when they see some officials get involved in graft. As a civil servant, I don’t think this is right,” he said, adding he might embark on a political career as he is still healthy and is experienced. 

Wichai is the first person to step down after the Democrat Party announced last week that it was disowning Sukhumbhand for failing to defend himself on allegations of irregularities and corruption levelled against him.

Deputy governors Pussadee Tamthai and Assawin Kwanmuang are reportedly in the process of deciding whether or not they should follow Wichai’s footsteps. While announcing its decision to part ways with Sukhumbhand, the party had also said that Democrats working for the governor would have to decide on their own future. 

Former Pheu Thai Party MP Anudit Nakhonthap, meanwhile, slammed the Democrat Party for failing to take responsibility for alleged corruption in projects operated by the city administration, which is managed by Sukhumbhand, who is deputy leader of the Democrat Party.

“This is just a political drama the Democrats have created to seek sympathy and support from Bangkokians after Sukhumbhand began suffering from a drop in popularity and approval ratings,” he said.

“It is not reasonable for the party to claim it cannot monitor or control the governor, as it has fielded Sukhumbhand in gubernatorial elections for two terms and he has served close to eight years.”