Prayut loses his cool minutes after Supreme Patriarch urges him to calm down
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who frequently loses his cool in public, received a blessing from the Supreme Patriarch on New Year’s Day along with some advice.
“Take it easy,” Thailand’s top monk told the PM.
The advice was given when Prayut visited the Supreme Patriarch at Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan to present a New Year’s offering.
After leaving the temple, Prayut told reporters that the Supreme Patriarch discussed Buddhism with him and gave him a few tips.
Prayut said he was advised to keep calm and pull himself together.
The advice did not have an immediate effect.
Prayut became visibly irritated when reporters persistently asked him to explain what the Supreme Patriarch meant when he advised the premier to remain calm.
“The Supreme Patriarch didn’t say I’m hot-headed,” Prayut said. “That’s not what he meant.”
He then explained: “I have to deal with a lot of issues, so the Supreme Patriarch told me to pull myself together and avoid becoming irritated. I replied to the Supreme Patriarch that I’ve been trying.”
Prayut continued: “I’m not a person who gets angry out of the blue.”
He frequently loses his cool in public, especially when reporters ask him to comment on controversial issues.
His opponents and critics often ridicule his irate responses, saying they are merely a smoke screen for his inability to answer questions from reporters or MPs in Parliament.
When pressed about whether he had any special concerns for this year, Prayut sounded irritated and then quizzed the reporter.
“And you? Do you have any concerns? Are you concerned when you ask me this kind of question? If you have concerns, please help me solve the issues. If not, don’t help me,” he said.
When asked what kind of New Year present he wanted, the prime minister replied that he wanted to see the country remain peaceful and to continue its progress towards sustainable prosperity.
Prayut also posted a New Year wish on Facebook.
He wrote that 2022 was a year of victory for Thailand because Thais united to overcome two crises: Covid-19 and geopolitical conflict.
He said that due to the unity of Thai people and their ability to cooperate, Thailand took leading roles internationally on four issues:
- Thailand opened the headquarters for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases
- Thailand became a role model for implementing the Bio-Circular-Green economic model
- Thailand became a destination for tourists from around the world as well as leading MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) destination
- Thailand became a destination for investment in future industries, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Prayut said in the post that he hoped to see Thais remain united to continue to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Thais should also continue to be good hosts to tourists and investors from around the world, he said.
The prime minister said his government would continue to develop the country by further developing basic infrastructure, transport and telecom infrastructure, and 5G. The government will also continue to promote Thailand as an international hub for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their parts, Prayut said.
He concluded by wishing that all those who travelled to their hometowns for the New Year break return to Bangkok safe and sound.
