Bangkok: Chatchart Sittipunt, the Bangkok gubernatorial candidate, has dismissed accusations regarding the transfer of 17 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials, asserting that his actions were lawful and expressing his readiness for any investigation.
According to Thai News Agency, Chatchart, identified as candidate number 9, emphasized his confidence in the transparency and procedural compliance of his work. He stated he is not concerned about political factions filing complaints with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and intends to focus on policy matters and continue presenting beneficial initiatives to the public.
During a visit to the Yan Nawa Senior Citizens' School at Wat Thong Bon in Yan Nawa District, where he discussed Bangkok's senior care policies, Chatchart addressed the complaints made by Mr. Chris Potranan and Mr. Jirayu Huangsap to the NACC regarding the appointments and transfers. He reiterated that it is within anyone's rights to file a complaint with an investigative body and expressed confidence that his previous actions adhered to regulations. Chatchart assured his willingness to cooperate with any requests for information from the relevant agencies, stating, "Anyone can file a complaint with the NACC. Anyone who wants to file anything can file it. We are confident that everything we have done is in accordance with regulations. There are no problems. We are happy to cooperate."
Chatchart also highlighted the importance of basing complaints on facts and following up on the outcomes of investigations after submission. He noted that such actions should extend beyond political campaign periods. He acknowledged that several investigations are still underway, including those by the NACC and the BMA, and stressed the need for these processes to follow established procedures. Regarding issues of misinformation being spread by some BMA councilors falsely claiming affiliation with his team, Chatchart mentioned his legal team is investigating. However, he prefers to avoid litigation, suggesting warnings or clarifications should suffice initially.
Chatchart remarked, "We don't want to go to court. I think it's better to warn people beforehand about the consequences, but I don't know the details of each case because we're focused on preparing for debates, campaigning, and developing policies." He emphasized that the scores of all candidates can change depending on the situation, but ultimately, it is for the people to decide. He remains committed to his work, policy presentation, and readiness for scrutiny.