The reincarnation of Newin Chidchob

In the past few years, one name has been conspicuously absent from Thailand’s political turmoil. An amnesty-bill crisis led to the Bangkok “shut down” headed by Suthep Thuagsuban, and then, amid much talk of a threat of civil war, the military seized power and launched yet another round of “reform”. Now, just over a year into military rule, Suthep has announced he is returning to the scene. Keen-eyed observers might be wondering where political wheeler-dealer Newin Chidchob has disappeared to. 

For sports enthusiasts, he never went away, but merely reinvented himself as the founder and owner of arguably Thailand’s best football team. Once bandied at every turn, his name is now associated with just one “brand” – Buriram United. The rice-scheme scandal, charter reform and Thaksin Shinawatra now seem firmly in Newin’s past, along with the rest of the political realm. And the onetime political play-maker claims he has relinquished all ambitions for public office. 

Young Buriram fans would likely find it impossible to picture their saviour as a shrewd politician. But even among seasoned politics watchers, memories might be fading. The days he played a key role in the collapse of the Democrat-led government, vowed to support Thaksin Shinawatra, then watched as their relationship turned sour, seem a long time ago now. 

Before his “reincarnation”, Newin seemed wedded to controversy. 

“I was in politics for 20 years and not many people admired me, but after being in football for two years, everyone loves me,” he said in 2012. Football fans revere him for building their local club up from scratch and turning it into one of the top outfits in Southeast Asia while Buriram locals say he’s put their “backwater” province on the map. 

His ambition is still there, but it no longer strays into the political arena. Not satisfied with building Buriram United into a regional brand, he has built a racing circuit that has transformed the province into the capital of Thai motorsports. 

Yet though his success in building brands has given him a “second life” after politics, sceptics still question whether he would jump back into public life should opportunity come knocking at his door. His reply is both simple and to the point: “Politics is hell, and now I’m out of hell, there’s no returning.” 

In politics, image and reputation are everything, and Newin should know that better than most. But as the chief of a football club, he is free to roam the streets on his big bike in a Buriram jersey. 

What Newin has achieved in his hometown province shares something in common with veteran politician Banharn Silapaarcha. The strongman of Suphanburi did a great deal to put his province ahead of others. But the actions of politicians are motivated by power and popularity, and Banharn might not have had the purest motives in championing Suphanburi’s development.

Unlike Banharn, Newin quit politics before he pursued his ambitions for his home province. He has successfully cast off his “murky” political image for the time being. But with his football team poised for greatness in Asia, there is one thing left for Newin to prove. He has to demonstrate that he won’t become another “Banharn” by giving in to political temptations. Newin will earn even greater respect if he doesn’t exploit his success in Buriram for political gain. Perhaps the man can be a model not only in brand-building for a remote province, but also in retiring from politics gracefully.