Kunplome brothers appointed political advisors to PM

Two Phalangchon party core leaders were appointed political advisors of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha by the Cabinet on Tuesday (April 17).

The appointment of Mr Sontaya Kunplome, leader of Phalangchon party and former tourism and sports minister and Mr Itthipol Kunplome, former Pattaya City mayor, as political officials was proposed by the secretary-general of the Prime Minister and endorsed by the Cabinet.

Mr Sontaya will serve as a political advisor to the prime minister whereas Mr Itthipol as an advisor to the tourism and sports minister.

Prime Minister Prayut said he needed the two politicians as his advisors because they are well versed in politics and can provide good advice to the government and the National Council for Peace and Order.

“I find it necessary to have these men to give me political advice, national administration.  I want to hear from them what they think about what we have done. I do not appoint (them) for other interest,” said the prime minister.

In a phone interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Sontaya said he was pleased with the appointment and promised to push forward the implementation of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) policy as the main engine of industrial and national development.

The Cabinet also approved a reshuffle of several senior officials of the Finance Ministry as follows:

Revenue Department director-general Prasong Poontaneat was appointed the new finance permanent secretary, succeeding Mr Somchai Sujjapongse who recently quit as finance permanent secretary after he was transferred to become secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Mr Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director of State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) will replace Mr Prasong as the new director-general of the Revenue Department.

Mr Prapas Kong-ied, director of the Office of Public Debt Management, was appointed director of the SEPO  and Mr Poomsak Aranyakasemsuk, an inspector-general of Finance Ministry, was promoted to head the Office of Public Debt Management.