Bangkok: Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has expressed his intention to conclude the ongoing matter involving Rachan Silapraya and redirect his focus towards addressing the crisis at the Ministry of Agriculture. Suriya emphasized that he has not yet seen Rachan's resignation letter and clarified that his nephew was responsible for arranging the meeting with Rachan.
According to Thai News Agency, Suriya addressed the transfer of Rachan Silapraya, former Director-General of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Aviation, to the position of Inspector-General of the Ministry. He reiterated that the transfer followed due consultation with the Permanent Secretary and adhered to all necessary procedures. Suriya underscored the importance of empowering the ministry to effectively navigate economic challenges by selecting capable individuals to advance its objectives.
When questioned about Rachan's resignation letter, Suriya stated that he had not seen it and was uncertain if it had been submitted to the Permanent Secretary. He expressed a desire to close the matter but acknowledged that public interest persists due to issues related to budget allocation for personal projects.
Suriya explained that the situation involving Rachan is linked to his nephew, Wuttiphum Chulangkul, an executive at Nok Air. Wuttiphum had contacted Rachan in July 2015, prior to Suriya's tenure at the ministry. Suriya noted that Wuttiphum's direct communication with Rachan followed proper procedures and was unrelated to any misuse of power, asserting that the proposed transfer of Rachan was not influenced by his nephew.
Amid reports of a request to review the 2025 budget, Suriya clarified that this issue only surfaced due to the initial transfer situation. He explained that the budget review request occurred after his official assumption of the ministerial role and was necessitated by the change in government. The budget required Cabinet approval, and no adjustments were ultimately made.
In response to inquiries about forming a fact-finding committee regarding Suriya's case, he mentioned that such a committee could be established if necessary, without any complications.