Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has been caught at it again, snoozing on the job, during a Parliament meeting. It’s not the first time Prawit, affectionately known as “Uncle Pom,” has been caught nodding off at work. The 77 year old politician has always defended himself against the accusations saying he was only “resting his eyes,” just like Sleeping Beauty.

 

The picture, showing the back of Prawit slumped forward asleep, went viral across Thai social media platforms. According to Sanook’s report, the picture was taken during the final two hours of the meeting where Padiphat Santiphada, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Move Forward Party (MFP), was addressing the Deputy President of the Thailand Parliament.

The reactions from netizens varied. Some netizen expressed their worries about Prawit’s health and offered their good wishes, hoping that he would continue his work in the Parliament without any health complications.

Many netizens disagreed with all of the negative comments and defended Prawit saying that it was normal for an old person to take a nap, while others believed it was time for Prawit to step back and allow a new generation of politicians to take the lead.

 

by Petch Petpailin

Photo via Facebook/ ท่านผู้นำฮาเฮ

 

#news

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/dozy-deputy-prawit-once-again-caught-napping-on-the-job-in-parliament

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-05

 

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Since at any given time of the day 30% of the Thai workforce are sleeping on the job I see no issue with this.

At least Prawit does not say or do anything stupid when he is asleep. Leave him be.

Getting old is not for sissies.  I used to laugh at this kind of thing.  These days, I am nodding off far too early. Old guys need their “beauty rest”.  ????

24 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Getting old is not for sissies.  I used to laugh at this kind of thing.  These days, I am nodding off far too early. Old guys need their “beauty rest”.  ????

Not enough hours in the day for Prawit then.

I'm not really sure why politics is not widely subject to old age restrictions or mandatory retirement like many other aspects of private or public sector life.

Aside from "refreshing" the political talent pool, it's hardly controversial to suggest that as we get older our physical and potentially mental capacities start to wane. Hardly suitable for an important role and especially the very top jobs which even those in their 40s/50s would find exhausting. I'm sure there are many 'consulting/advisor' roles available within the wider political machinery should the experience be wanted or needed. 

 

 

51 minutes ago, SmartyMarty said:

Since at any given time of the day 30% of the Thai workforce are sleeping on the job I see no issue with this.

and the other 70% play on their mobile phones (so does European politicians)

1 minute ago, realfunster said:

I'm not really sure why politics is not widely subject to old age restrictions or mandatory retirement like many other aspects of private or public sector life.

Aside from "refreshing" the political talent pool, it's hardly controversial to suggest that as we get older our physical and potentially mental capacities start to wane. Hardly suitable for an important role and especially the very top jobs which even those in their 40s/50s would find exhausting. I'm sure there are many 'consulting/advisor' roles available within the wider political machinery should the experience be wanted or needed. 

 

 

it would be massive undemocratic....and someone get funny with 50, while others are mentally fully fit with 95. You would need to do a test.

For all we know and giving his age, he can be suffering from Narcolepsy that is a sleep disorder that makes people very drowsy during the day.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

“Uncle Pom,” has been caught nodding off at work.

It can happen to anyone. At least he stayed in his seat.

 

20 minutes ago, realfunster said:

 I'm sure there are many 'consulting/advisor' roles available within the wider political machinery should the experience be wanted or needed.

Like being a senator perhaps ????

Could get a start as England's new keeper.

20 minutes ago, realfunster said:

I'm not really sure why politics is not widely subject to old age restrictions or mandatory retirement like many other aspects of private or public sector life.

Of course Parliament just approved a 79 year old Speaker, because, I guess, they couldn't find someone older? He'll be 83 at the end of his term. This almost seems like elder abuse.

 

Yes, experience counts but eventually you need a rookie, if only because those with experience have died off. Better to have someone younger serve as first-time Speaker with Wan Noor as an advisor, transferring his institutional knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

17 minutes ago, ezzra said:

For all we know and giving his age, he can be suffering from Narcolepsy that is a sleep disorder that makes people very drowsy during the day.

 

He's got a number of ailments, although details are scant. He makes visits to the U.S. and the U.K. for treatments (public news) but very little is said about those ailments. I remember hearing about "angioplasty" and "stents", but that was years ago.

 

The public would probably be more accommodating if details were released, but I understand the need for privacy too. He was rumored to be quite the "bachelor" in his day.

 

 

When is the NACC going to disclose the probe into Prawit's Watch scandal from 2018?  It was the Supreme Administrative Court that ordered that the summary report must be disclosed back in April 2023.

 

It would be nice to get rid of this old military guy from politics for good.

 

6 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

He's got a number of ailments, although details are scant. He makes visits to the U.S. and the U.K. for treatments (public news) but very little is said about those ailments. I remember hearing about "angioplasty" and "stents", but that was years ago.

 

The public would probably be more accommodating if details were released, but I understand the need for privacy too. He was rumored to be quite the "bachelor" in his day.

 

 

At whose expense does he travel?  I remember some new plane being bought under Prayut and Prawit seemed to commandeer this plane as his own. 

Doing what he is best at, eating and in this case, sleeping.

Someone slap that thing in the face with a wet fish!

1 hour ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Getting old is not for sissies.  I used to laugh at this kind of thing.  These days, I am nodding off far too early. Old guys need their “beauty rest”.  ????

I'm in the same boat.At 72 I find myself getting ready for bed between 8-9 pm.Not that long ago I'd be drinking beer untill 11pm.

Since I quit drinking I can't keep my eyes open late anymore.BTW I'm not complaining.

He's like my condo security, always asleep 3am-6am, probably have a day job too

He really does need to be put out to pasture ......

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has been caught at it again, snoozing on the job,

Not sure what the problem is. After all he does cause the least damage when he is snoozing. 

 

Maybe he has an undiagnosed thyroid issue.. He simply may not have the time to get it checked out ????

Do those expensive watches not come with an alarm?

2 minutes ago, Bim Smith said:

Do those expensive watches not come with an alarm?

Only a snooze button 

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

For all we know and giving his age, he can be suffering from Narcolepsy that is a sleep disorder that makes people very drowsy during the day.

The CIA just recently guesstimated Kim Jong Il is about 160KG and likely has sleep apnea. 

 

I don't think they are worried enough about the sleeping watchman to care about his health at all. 

 

It's always fun to see him totter over, maybe one day they'll fail to steady him and then som nam na!  No sympathy for him or his poorly hidden malarkey.

 

 

Hmm

His team only need to contact Biden's handlers and ask them what they use to keep China Joe on his feet. On the down side it may make him stupid.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The 77 year old politician has always defended himself against the accusations saying he was only “resting his eyes,” just like Sleeping Beauty.

Out to pasture for him... long past his best.

Rollie Rolex in his natural habitat oblivious ????  

4 hours ago, realfunster said:

I'm not really sure why politics is not widely subject to old age restrictions or mandatory retirement like many other aspects of private or public sector life.

It's because the politicians make the rules maybe?