BREAKING: Phuket's Paiboon Upasating dies of cancer at 58

[Lite Beer]

BREAKING: Phuket's Paiboon Upasating dies of cancer at 58
Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: The island's highest elected official, Paiboon Upasating has died early this morning at Thonburi Hospital in the nation's capital.

It is understood that Paiboon – President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor or PPAO) – had been suffering of cancer for some time.

He was pronounced dead by doctors at 1.09am this morning (August 2).

Prior to taking the reigns of the PPAO, Mr Paiboon was a Senator of the kingdom's only island province.

Several weeks ago, Mr Upasating was suspended from his post without pay by the kingdom's prime minister pending investigations into corruption (story here).

As head of the OrBorJor, Mr Paiboon was responsible for securing funding for various civic, sports, health and educational projects and programmes that the central government did not fund directly.

It is noted that Mr Paiboon was a central supporter of Phuket FC (FC Phuket) backing them during their rise to national glory in their promotion to the Thai Division One.

He helped fund many schools and the building of the Phuket OrBorJor Hospital and was a proponent of building a subway in Phuket to solve traffic problems in light of high land prices.

He was head of the company that had exclusive distribution rights in Phuket for Singha and Leo beverage products, among others.

Read more from his recent exclusive interview with The Phuket News.

Mr Paiboon's surprise death during a high-level corruption investigation echoes that of former Patong Mayor, Pian Keesin, who perished last year amid a Patong corruption purge.

The Phuket News would like to extend our condolences to the Upasating family, as well as government and business associates of the former Phuket Senator, all of whom are at a great loss today.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/breaking-phukets-paiboon-upasating-dies-of-cancer-at-58-53462.php

-- Phuket News 2015-08-02

[Somtamnication]

RIP. Nice guy, family owns all of the Phuket Villas and Chao Fa Villas, condo in Patong, etc etc.

[Bakseeda]

RIP......if it really is him..! check the fingerprints..... Not that you cannot trust a Thai politician.... Even a dead one..

[Charlie Croker]

RIP......if it really is him..! check the fingerprints..... Not that you cannot trust a Thai politician.... Even a dead one..

That's a terrible thing to say!!!

Although the number of likes you get will demonstrate how many of us are thinking exactly the same

[JetsetBkk]

I was told in August 2012 by a Thai nurse that he had "stage 4" cancer of the intestines. I was surprised he lasted this long. The cancer was first diagnosed at the OrBorJor hospital in Phuket Town, the opening ceremony for which was presided over by Paiboon, who was OrBorJor President at the time.

RIP Paiboon, you were a good man.

Edited August 2, 2015 by JetsetBkk

[stevenl]

RIP......if it really is him..! check the fingerprints..... Not that you cannot trust a Thai politician.... Even a dead one..

That's a terrible thing to say!!!

Although the number of likes you get will demonstrate how many of us are thinking exactly the same

So far not too many, so things are looking good.

[Valentine]

RIP......if it really is him..! check the fingerprints..... Not that you cannot trust a Thai politician.... Even a dead one..

That's a terrible thing to say!!!

Although the number of likes you get will demonstrate how many of us are thinking exactly the same

So far not too many, so things are looking good.

Really bad taste joke IMO. I always heard he was one of the good ones.

[LivinginKata]

^

Yes, I have always heard good things about his work. No need for any nasty 'jokes'

[fish fingers]

One thing I can't laugh at are cancer jokes, unless being told by the patient.

[redandyellow]

RIP. Nice guy, family owns all of the Phuket Villas and Chao Fa Villas, condo in Patong, etc etc.

almost bought a phuket villa - decent places - you did well