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Published on January 23, 2008

Yongyuth's nickname, bestow-ed on him by the press, refers not to any resemblance he has to NFL great William Perry, also known as "The Refrigerator" because of his enormous size. Rather it refers to a spectacular incident.

While serving as Thaksin's secretary-general, he led 50 commandos in a raid on the home of a suspected drug maker in Ayutthaya's Bang Sai district. The house was peppered with 200 bullets.

The barrage shredded the house in dramatic fashion and tore apart almost everything inside. Yet a refrigerator survived, dented and riddled but basically intact, and was taken away by the police as evidence.

That assault and the sight of the fridge being carted off earned him the famous moniker.

Yongyuth later denied he attacked the house because of a complaint.

Putting the incident and the coup behind him, he yesterday marked another milestone in his career by being elected House speaker and Parliament president.

The politician, who turns 47 in April, won the post by 307 votes to Democrat Party MP Banyat Bantadtan's 167.

Yongyuth was part of Thaksin's inner circle and was taken into custody along with three other key members of Thaksin's government during the coup on September 19, 2006. After he was released, he left politics and took up a PhD programme in Canada.

His name faded from the public's memory over the next 15 months and it was widely assumed his political career was finished.

But he staged a sudden comeback, returning home when Thai Rak Thai was dissolved.

He took on the role of a deputy leader in People Power Party, which is strongly aligned with Thaksin.

When PPP won the December 23 election, Yongyuth became first choice for the positions of House speaker and Parliament president.

But there have been allegations that he was involved in vote buying in Chiang Rai, where his younger sister Laong ran for a seat.

If proven, his involvement could have repercussions for the party, even if he resigned as deputy leader.

Because he served in an executive position, PPP could be dissolved.

If anything, though, Yongyuth is a wily survivor. His political career began in 1995 under the wing of the Solidarity Party.

In 1996, Yongyuth jumped camp to the Democrat Party.

He ran for and won a constituency seat in Chiang Rai.

At one stage he was promoted to secretary to PM's Office minister Khunying Supatra Masdit.

He changed sides again when Thai Rak Thai fever gripped the North.

"Thaksin was not an expert in politics. He needed an assistant to coach him on how to take on his rival, the Democrats. Yongyuth would come to fill this role," said a source from the now defunct TRT.

But their relationship goes back much further. Thaksin was acquainted with Yongyuth long before they entered politics as their families had engaged in trade while they were young. Thaksin's parents were traders in Chiang Mai while Yongyuth's family were also merchants in neighbouring Chiang Rai.

The TRT won the election in 2001. A surprise choice was made when Yongyuth was appointed government spokesman two years later

He rose further up the ladder when he was appointed the prime minister's secretary-general.

Known to be enthusiastic about his job, it came as no surprise to other party members when Thaksin made him Natural Resources & Environment minister.

Yongyuth is known for his quick wit and sharp tongue.

Said to have gained the trust of Thaksin and his wife, Yongyuth's star seemed to grow ever brighter.

He once told reporters he had only one boss, namely Thaksin. He would carry out whatever order the boss gave him.

In the 2005 election, Thaksin prepared strategy lists to help him to complete his four-year term. He did not factor in political accidents.

He had three lists: party list MP candidates, ministerial candidates and constitutional MP candidates.

But he did not place Yongyuth's name on the list of party executives because Thaksin wanted him to work only for his government. The same occurred with Surapong Suebwonglee, another trusted aide.

Consequently, he escaped the fate that befell the 111 executives of TRT. But time will tell whether he escapes the clutches of the Election Commission.

The Nation