Obviously the Thai government must think highly or Mr. Hakparn but I routinely see references to him as "the big joke"  Where did that originate from? 

It is nickname from always. Until now we generally assumed nicknames had little basis. Clearly given recent changes to retirement regs, the young mover and shaker is fulfilling the nickname in spades. 

In a recent Khaosod article, it said that the nickname came from his father when he liked to use the Joker in card games. Not rice gruel.

It could be for his trouser department dimensions in shafting overstayers ???? 

Several threads on this already:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1075537-why-is-big-joke-called-big-joke/

9 hours ago, JLCrab said:

In a recent Khaosod article, it said that the nickname came from his father when he liked to use the Joker in card games. Not rice gruel.

Oh.  Playing cards are illegal in Thailand.

He liked a big bowl of rice porridge for breakfast.

The Thai word for porridge is 'Joke' aka โจ๊ก (near enough).

like all Thai nicknames, it is ingenious and smart, such as "pig", "mouse", "fat", "little", "rabbit".

He has said himself in an interview that it was because of his taste for 'Jok' (pronounced joke). Jok is a rice soup also called conjee.

22 hours ago, Thomas J said:

Obviously the Thai government must think highly or Mr. Hakparn but I routinely see references to him as "the big joke"  Where did that originate from?

It has nothing to do with the English word 'Joke'  it's a Thai word with a different meaning.   

Much the same as girls called 'Porn' are not named that because they are fantastic in bed.

 

Regardless of what his nickname is this clown is a serious liability to Expats on a retirement visa. That being said I would amend his nickname to "Biggest Joke." I imagine in his feeble mind that longterm Expats are a detriment to Thailand and should be forced to leave the country. Only Western tourists who come here for short periods would be welcome if it were left up to him.

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23 hours ago, JLCrab said:

In a recent Khaosod article, it said that the nickname came from his father when he liked to use the Joker in card games. Not rice gruel.

......And 'big' because of his physical stature or his importance? I read it somewhere but cant remember which.

 

Yawn, done to death. 

On 2/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, Khaeng Mak said:

Oh.  Playing cards are illegal in Thailand.

No.  Gambling is illegal.  Play cards to your heart's content as long as you don't gamble.  If playing cards was illegal, you wouldn't be able to buy a pack at 7/11.

On 2/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, Khaeng Mak said:

Oh.  Playing cards are illegal in Thailand.

I think you are mistaken. You can buy playing cards easily. You just can't use them to gamble with.

Not this one again?