Anutin urges government departments to accept flood criticism and work together

BANGKOK — On 30 September 2026, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed government departments and agencies, urging them to accept public criticism over the flooding situation with an open mind and work together to avoid obstructing one another. At a meeting of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command chaired by Anutin, relevant departments and agencies, including military commanders, the national police chief, provincial governors, and the Bangkok governor, assessed the flood situation and coordinated relief efforts.

Anutin stressed the importance of identifying problems caused by flooding in Bangkok and nearby provinces, as well as preparing for potential flooding across the country, emphasizing the need to "plug gaps" in communication and protect people's lives and property. The prime minister thanked government departments, agencies, and volunteers for their efforts in assisting affected residents, acknowledging the public's criticism, and urging officials to remain patient and open-minded, using criticism to find solutions for the people.

Anutin announced that the morning coordination meetings would continue, with agency heads able to send representatives instead of canceling their existing work. This new coordination system, the first of its kind since 2011, aimed to ensure systematic and continuous information sharing, drawing on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.