Provincial Governors Scramble: Chinese Adviser Scandal Sparks Urgent Action

Picture courtesy of nbt WORLD

In a dramatic move today, the Interior Ministry ordered all provincial governors to swiftly submit the details of their advisers. This comes in the wake of the controversial appointment, and subsequent dismissal, of a Chinese adviser in Prachin Buri, which has sparked widespread criticism.

The abrupt directive saw governors racing to comply, as they were given mere hours to complete the task.

Mr. Chettha Mosikarat, the acting permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, formalised this demand with an official letter sent at 4 p.m. This swift action came on the heels of Governor Wiraphan De-on of Prachin Buri having to hurriedly retract the appointment of Mr. Jun Cheng Zhu upon a public backlash.

The appointment, originally designed to seek guidance on key provincial tasks, quickly fell apart when the public learned about it, leading to a torrent of criticism.

The official letter noted the central issue as the appointment letter's legitimacy, dated April 21, 2025, which was displayed online by CSI LA. The public reacted sharply to the idea of a foreign national influencing provincial policy, prompting this rapid retraction.

The Interior Ministry's response underscores the sensitivity of the issue, with the details of advisers requiring submission by 4:30 p.m. today—making this an urgent priority for governors across the nation.

In summary, the Interior Ministry's decisive action reflects the serious nature of appointing local advisers and the intense scrutiny such appointments can attract.

The Prachin Buri case is a significant reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in governmental processes, especially when foreign nationals are involved.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-05-01