Srettha visits market in Bangkok, vows to tackle rising cost of living

Srettha went to the Muang Thai Phatra Market, where he asked some street food vendors about their cost of running the business, including the prices of fresh ingredients, cooking oil and cooking gas, among others.

He told them that he would tackle the issues of rising prices and inflation as soon as he officially assumes office.

The new Cabinet will assume office after being sworn in before His Majesty the King and announcing the government’s policy statement before Parliament.

The new PM asked people at the market what problems they wanted his government to tackle urgently. Most of them pointed to the rising cost of living, particularly public-utility prices.

Srettha told reporters at the market that he had visited the market to get first-hand information from the vendors there about the cost of living and running their business. He said that his Cabinet’s first meeting would discuss the electricity prices although he could not tell now how much the power price would be reduced.

He said that electricity price could be reduced within four months of his government assuming office.

The new premier, who was voted in by Parliament and endorsed by royal command earlier this month, took the subway from Phetchaburi MRT station near the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to Sutthisan station, just four stops away.

The roofed market is a two minutes’ walk from Sutthisan station.

Wearing a casual brown jacket on white shirt, Srettha was accompanied by some senior party figures expected to join his Cabinet, including Julapun Amornvivat and Puangpet Chunlaaid.

The incoming PM and his group joined a queue along with other commuters. On his way to the market, he was asked by admirers for photos with them.

At the market, a group of people held a poster to welcome Srettha as “prime minister of the Thais”. Some of them also chanted, “PM Srettha will make Thais wealthy”.

Nualphan “Madam Pang” Lamsam, chief executive of Muang Thai Insurance Plc, greeted Srettha at the market. He jokingly addressed her as “madam president”, referring to Nualphan’s recent announcement that she would contest for the president of the Football Association of Thailand.

Srettha said that he had been acquainted with Nualphan for a long time and was aware of her dedication to work. He wished her luck in the election for the FAT presidency, although he was quick to add that as a politician currently, he should retain neutrality.

During Srettha’s visit to the market, a woman shouted that the prime minister’s post should have gone to Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, which won the largest number of MP seats in the May 14 general election.

“This person is not prime minister. He stole the seat,” the woman shouted at Srettha.

The PM’s security details appeared to ignore the woman, who later walked away.