'Mr Clean' wants to remain 'Mr Quiet'
Former interior minister Purachai Piumsomboon holds up a copy of his new book during its launch at a Bangkok hotel yesterday.
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Despite a poll favouring Dr Purachai Piumsomboon - the pioneer of the social order campaign - as the next prime minister, he insists he is in no position to act or comment as he had quit the Thai Rak Thai Party last year.
Speaking at a press conference for his latest book "Cheewit Nawk Baan" ("Life Outside the Country"), the former deputy prime minister was hesitant to discuss political issues aside from the content of his book. He did not say whether he would accept the offer but thanked those who recognised his good deeds during his four years in the political party and voted for him in the survey. Purachai was dubbed "Mr Clean" and received high recognition for his social order campaign when he served in the Thaksin administration as interior minister. "I'm not eligible to be prime minister because I'm not a member of any political party," he said. But he was willing to help the country either with or without a political position. Impressed by the local legend of village warrior "Bangrachan" when all the residents fought against their country's foes without expectation of political rewards, he said: "I think of myself as a Bangrachan villager who is ready to fight for the country." As a Thai citizen, Purachai said he did everything in accordance with Thai law by exercising his vote and paying income tax, as well as working in the academic field and speaking at seminars. Commenting on the political situation, Purachai said it showed the country had moved forward to become politically more aware. Everyone in the country had learned from it. People had learned peaceful ways to fight for democracy while the police had learned how to control a crowd with a neutral attitude. "They had always been a tool for the powerful in the past," he said. To become a leader, Purachai said, a prime minister should have "Promviharn 4" (the sublime states of mind according to Buddhism, consisting of loving kindness, compassion, sympathy and equanimity). For the immediate future, the former deputy prime minister planned to return to academia and spend as much time as possible with his family. "I am proud of my four years in politics, but it was also the saddest moment in my whole life," Purachai said. He said his life had been much happier since he left politics. Sirinya Wattanasukchai The Nation
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