I apologise for letting slip expletive : Chai

The 79-year-old House speaker did not give reason why he lost his temper. He made an apology while chairing a House session.

Chai lost his temper and let slip an expletive while chairing the House session to name panel members in charge of vetting draft amendments to the money-laundering law.

"The nomination should have been made after consulting the prospective candidate, otherwise it is a waste of time with interference from the unwelcome candidacy," Chai said, opting for the rude word, "suek,"in place of interference.

He was reprimanding MP Phitsanu Hatthasongkroh for nominating fellow MP Jumpot Boonyai, who declined to sit on the panel. Phitsanu and Jumpot are both from the ruling People Power Party.

Chai appeared to be in a foul mood from the very start of the session, and had to press the buzzer six times for MPs to enter the chamber. Then he made several checks for attendance before declare a quorum of 236 MPs, which allowed him to proceed with the legislative deliberation.

Speaking outside the chamber, Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said opposition and coalition lawmakers were so shocked by Chai's rudeness that none had remembered to move a motion to strike out the expletive from the House minutes.